Advocates Staunchly Oppose Governor Lombardo’s Regressive Crime Bill, Assembly Bill 4

CARSON CITY, NV—Today, the Nevada Assembly passed Assembly Bill 4 (AB4), which echoes Governor Lombardo’s regressive crime bill from earlier this year, Senate Bill 457 (SB457). As crime rates trend downward, this measure is not needed, especially during a costly special session. 

Nicholas Shepack, Nevada State Director of Fines and Fees Justice Center, issued the following statement: 

“This crime bill was rushed during the regular session and lacked input from both stakeholders and the community. This remains true today. If this bill is passed as currently written it will result in a revolving door of fines, fees and incarceration for our most vulnerable citizens. Nevadans deserve real solutions to the root causes of crime, not failed tough on crime policies that financially destabilize our communities.” 

Quentin Savwoir, President of NAACP Las Vegas, issued the following statement:

“Today, the Nevada Legislature has been duped by Gov. Lombardo and a manufactured narrative to criminalize our community members and neighbors. Nevadans deserve to be safe and the way to accomplish that is to engage all stakeholders to identify solutions that aren’t regressive and overly burdensome for a justice system that is patched together with duck tape. By failing to address the root causes of crime, this legislature has acquiesced to the extremism we’re seeing all over the country. Do better.”

Shelbie Swartz, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress, issued the following statement: 

“Assembly Bill 4 is the same bad crime policy we saw during the regular session. The main difference is that this measure was rushed through during a special session in which public participation was limited. At a time when crime is down, this policy serves resorts rather than investing in solutions that address the root causes of crime in the first place. If passed, this bill will result in more fines and fees rather than solutions to support our communities. We’ve spent years building smarter, more compassionate, and evidence-based alternatives to incarceration. Throwing that progress away now is not only reckless—it’s inhumane.” 

Laura Martin, Executive Director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, issued the following statement: 

Governor Lombardo’s dumb on crime bill will only bust the budgets of our already overburdened criminal legal system. Lombardo’s unwillingness to address root causes, prevention and rehabilitation proves this bill is only meant to further agitate and push a false narrative, not actually lower crime. AB04 will not keep communities safe. It will lead to more distrust of police, and deepen isolation among community members.”

Paloma M. Guerrero, Clark County Public Defender, issued the following statement: 

“This bill increases penalties without evidence, expands mandatory prison categories without research, and removes judicial discretion without cause. These changes will put more strain on our prison system which is already in crisis. All of this at a time when crime is down in Nevada. Our office submitted proposed smart on crime amendments to this bill--necessary changes that reduce harm to our communities. There have been no meaningful conversations with the Governor’s staff on these amendments and we are left with a bill that will do nothing to increase public safety.  ”

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