Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoes bill limiting Nevada National Guard benefits

Gov. Brian Sandoval issued his first veto from the 2015 legislative session on a relatively obscure bill dealing with life insurance premiums for Nevada National Guard members.

Sandoval opted Monday to reject AB472, which would have prevented guardsmen from drawing on the state’s Patriot Relief Account for reimbursements of group life insurance premiums.

“Assembly Bill 472 sought to eliminate this important benefit, which would create a greater financial hardship on members of the Nevada National Guard,” the Republican governor said in an official veto message. “At a time when our military members are still being deployed in support of global military operations, it is critical to ensure that ... their families have access to this coverage in the event of a tragedy.”

The measure, which unanimously passed the Senate and Assembly late in the session, also would have prevented Guard members from claiming more than $1,000 in reimbursements per semester for textbooks.

Aside from the veto, the Republican governor signed nearly four dozen other bills. They include:

AB161, which brings Nevada in line with most other states in offering tax incentives for aviation-related businesses. Proponents at a hearing argued that planes fly to neighboring states for expensive repairs because Nevada has an unfavorable tax climate, and said that the incentives will help foster growth in the aviation and drone industries.

SB411, which allows school boards in all counties except Clark to put together a committee reviewing potential taxes to support school repair and construction. The committees would make recommendations that could go to the ballot in 2016. The measure, which unanimously passed the Senate but drew Republican opposition in the Assembly, garnered support from people who said they liked the deliberative process and voter approval step included in the bill.

SB412, which allows employers to take a tax credit when they match an employee’s contribution to a state-sponsored college savings program. The credit is worth 25 percent of the employer match, and can be as high as $500 per employee per year.