Despite a bill looking to make lacrosse a sanctioned sport in Nevada being vetoed by Governor Joe Lombardo, things are looking promising for the lax community. 

The NIAA and Governor announced plans to sanction the sport by the 2026-2027 school year.

The legislation, Senate Bill 305 passed unanimously out of both the senate and assembly floors.

The Governor's recent veto message states he supports sanctioning the sport, but the decision came down to policy concerns.

"Unfortunately, despite the broad support and good intentions behind SB 305, I cannot support the bill in its final form," Lombardo said in his statement on his veto. "After the bill had already been heard in committee twice and was being prepared for a floor vote, a last-minute amendment introduced Section 2.7, creating a new subcommittee with broad and controversial oversight powers."

Specifically those portions he didn't like included: 

  • Section 2.7(3) authorizes the subcommittee to “review interscholastic activities and events and competitions in this State to ensure compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.” 
  • Section 2.7(7) permits the subcommittee to advise the Attorney General if it believes any rule or policy “encroaches on the sovereignty” of the state with regard to interscholastic activities.

However, despite the bill's veto, the efforts to sanction the sport are still happening.

State Senator Fabian Doñate (D - Las Vegas), one of the bill's sponsors, says he feels the popularity and demand of the legislation is what made the NIAA sanction the sport after the bill was vetoed.

"We still see this as s win because obviously from the very beginning we heard from many voices that were left behind and forgotten and so, as part of the political process we wanted to ensure that family and children get heard and fortunately we were able to achieve that," he said. "Whether SB305 was signed or not we still believe that we were successful and we are looking forward to ensuring that students can participate in Lacrosse."  

Back in March, during the bill's first hearing in the Senate Committee on Education, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association or the NIAA opposed the legislation.

Timothy Jackson, the Executive Director for the NIAA, sent in an opposition letter saying why in part, "Ceding this authority to legislative bodies would set a dangerous precedent that could undermine the stability and effectiveness of high school athletics in Nevada."

Jackson said in the letter he feels the responsibility for sanctioning a sport should fall on the NIAA since they know the time and effort it takes to properly do so.

Right now, lacrosse is a club sport.

Sanctioning it would require the NIAA create rules and regulations for the sport to be played at high schools.

Some lacrosse folks in the Reno community say they think it's a great development for the sport.

"Probably the biggest thing is recognition for the kids, right? Like, they, its very different than playing a club sport as opposed to being a fully recognized varsity athlete at your school, letters, jackets, banners hung in the gym," said Justin Cutler, President for the High Sierra Lacrosse League.

Cutler also said it would create more equitable access to facilities and transportation that is harder to do in club sports.

The NIAA says they will hold an emergency board of control meeting in August to get approval.