Las Vegas Bio Lab Sparks New Pathogen-Tracking Legislation

Sen. Cortez Masto introduces bill to strengthen oversight after discovery of suspected bio lab in Las Vegas

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:26pm

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Amid the discovery of a suspected bio lab in Las Vegas and growing concerns about the government's ability to track and monitor dangerous pathogens, Democratic Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto is introducing new legislation to create a mechanism for the federal government to track the sale and transfer of highly pathogenic agents.

Why it matters

The Las Vegas location went undetected for years, even after authorities in California raided a similar facility in 2023, highlighting the federal government's lack of information about these types of labs and its ability to enforce who can legally possess potentially dangerous pathogens. Cortez Masto's legislation aims to strengthen oversight and coordination between law enforcement agencies.

The details

Police and the FBI searched two east valley homes in Las Vegas on January 31, finding a 'possible biological laboratory' inside one garage, including refrigerators with vials containing unknown liquids. The FBI lab was able to assess some material, finding it contained vaccine compounds to fight Influenza A and Influenza B, as well as other chemicals common in the making of COVID and pregnancy tests. The Las Vegas location is connected to a similar incident in Reedley, California, where officials found infectious agents such as HIV and malaria.

  • On January 31, 2026, police and the FBI searched two east valley homes in Las Vegas, finding the suspected bio lab.
  • In 2023, authorities in California raided a similar facility in Reedley.

The players

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto

A Democratic senator from Nevada who is introducing new legislation to create a mechanism for the federal government to track the sale and transfer of highly pathogenic agents.

Ori Solomon

The 55-year-old property manager of the Las Vegas home where the suspected bio lab was found, who faces a felony charge of disposing or discharging hazardous waste.

David He

A Chinese citizen who faces federal charges in California for allegedly manufacturing and distributing misbranded medical devices, but is not connected to the Las Vegas raid.

Christopher Delzotto

The FBI Special Agent in Charge who leads the bureau's Las Vegas office and referred to the Las Vegas garage as a bio-storage facility, not a laboratory.

Kevin Kiley

An Independent California congressman who asked Congress to investigate the federal response to both the Reedley lab and Las Vegas labs.

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What they’re saying

“There is no chain of custody. I think it was important to get all the facts, to understand what was going on there, and then figure out how we prevent something like this from happening.”

— Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto

“If you're a distributor of any highly pathogenic agent, you have to create a log book of who you're selling it to, who you're leasing it to, and those purchasers have to be tracked.”

— Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto

“It makes no sense to mandate a logbook or chain of custody without any enforcement mechanism if it's violated. It gives tools to our law enforcement agencies across the country to be able to work together.”

— Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Ori Solomon out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the federal government's lack of information about these types of bio labs and its ability to enforce who can legally possess potentially dangerous pathogens, raising concerns about public safety and the need for stronger oversight and coordination between law enforcement agencies.