Nevada governor signs sweeping crime bill as state looks to boost tourism

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed his sweeping crime package into law over the weekend that will help revive a unique court program that barred offenders of some crimes from the Las Vegas Strip and will stiffen penalties for smash-and-grab robberies, DUIs, and assault and battery against hospitality workers. Known as the Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act, the law paves the way for the reinstitution of the controversial Resort Corridor Court to penalize crimes such as petty theft, assault, drug offenses and loitering originating on the Las Vegas Strip and coinciding with orders banning people from the tourist area for a year. The bill’s passage marked a major political win for the Republican governor as he prepares for a challenging reelection campaign in 2026.