Back when egg prices remained securely under $2 a dozen in 2021, Nevada joined several other states concerned about animal welfare in requiring cage-free eggs. Now four years later, a dozen eggs costs an average of nearly $5 in the U.

Gov. Joe Lombardo signed legislation that will allow the state to temporarily drop cage-free egg sale standards, an effort that was fast-tracked to address rising egg prices.

The Nevada Legislature Wednesday passed Assembly Bill 171, which attempts to bring down the state's egg prices. AB 171 would suspend any Nevada regulations on eggs for no more than 120 consecutive days.

The governor's office said Lombardo on Thursday signed AB 171, which he applauded as a symbol of bipartisan effectiveness.