Nevada Political Roundup
February 1

Welcome to the Tom Clark Solutions weekly roundup!
Here is where we'll keep you informed on what is happening in Nevada politics.

Opening remarks

Welcome to 2023!

We are all very excited for the beginning of the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session on Monday, February 6. The office will be ready, systems are in place, and in the words of the late Mills Lane, “Let’s get it on.”

Governor Lombardo laid out his budget and his vision during his State of the State Adress on January 23rd.

If you have an hour, this is must watch TV

But we’ve made it easy to review - read the written transcript here.

For an overview of the executive budget in an easy-to-read-format, click here.

The State of the State Address is an important kick off to the Legislature. Two days after the speech, meetings for the Legislative Commission’s Budget Subcommittee started (session before The Session) where they hear from Department heads about their agency budgets. No decisions are made during this time - they’re not in Session but the legislators that will decide the budget are getting a peek at what’s to come.
-Tom 

Important Dates

First Day of the 2023 Legislative Session beginsFebruary 6, 2023

until the 82nd Nevada Legislative Session begins.


ICYMI

Watch a replay of Jon Ralston interview Governor Lombardo about his SOTS

Democratic Response to the Governor's State of the State Address

Freshman Legislator Orientation series by the Nevada Independent

New dining options at the Legislative Building


ECONOMY

Tesla announces new $3.5B facility east of Sparks to build all-electric semi trucks
This week, Tesla announced plans to build a new $3.5 billion advanced manufacturing facility east of Sparks to build the company's all-electric semi trucks. The facility will be built at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center and is expected to create 3,000 jobs.

EDAWN State of the Economy: National recession likely, but northern Nevada ready to weather storm
Local economic experts said although a national recession is likely in 2023, northern Nevada will weather the storm better than other regions because of its more diversified economy. "We (won't) see many job losses associated with this recession, unlike prior recessions, because our manufacturing workforce will be working, our technology workforce will be working," said EDAWN CEO and President Mike Kazmierski.


ENVIRONMENT

Six states release consensus framework for Colorado River cuts — with California absent
Earlier this week, six of the seven U.S. states that rely on the Colorado River released a framework that outlines a potential strategy for federal water regulators tasked with making unprecedented cuts on an overused watershed that serves about 40 million people across the Southwest. 

Notably, the plan failed to gain the support of California, seen as critical to making meaningful cutbacks, as the state with the largest apportionment of the river and priority legal entitlements to use water. And it’s unclear how federal officials will regard a plan that leaves out a key state. John Entsminger, who leads the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said in a statement Monday that while the goal remains a seven-state deal, the six-state plan was a “positive step forward.” 

In the coming weeks, federal water officials will review the plan and could incorporate parts of it in an environmental review process to evaluate the short-term cuts to annual water use. The federal government will likely announce a regulatory action later this year.

General Motors conditionally investing $650M in Thacker Pass
General Motors Co. has conditionally agreed to invest $650 million in Lithium Americas Corp. in a deal that will give GM exclusive access to the first phase of a mine planned near the Nevada-Oregon line with the largest known source of lithium in the U.S. The equity investment the companies announced jointly on Tuesday is contingent on the Thacker Pass project clearing the final environmental and legal challenges it faces in federal court in Reno, where conservationists and tribal leaders are suing to block it.


GAMING

Nevada casinos close out 2022 with record gaming revenue figures
Fueled by a single-month record for the Strip in December, Nevada finished off 2022 with more than $14.8 billion in gaming revenue, blowing past 2021’s $13.4 billion by 10.5 percent, the state’s Gaming Control Board announced earlier this week. “The Strip accounted for the majority of the statewide increase in December,” said control board senior economic analyst Michael Lawton. “The state’s combined markets outside of the Strip only increased by 0.2 percent, or $914,000 compared to December 2021.”

Lombardo names ex-judge George Assad to seat on the Gaming Control Board
Former Las Vegas judge George Assad, 71, who was a Las Vegas Municipal Court judge from 2002 until 2011, will have a four-year term as a member of the board that directs the statewide agency charged with regulating and enforcing laws governing Nevada’s largest industry.

His appointment fills out the three-person board. Assad has been a commissioner with the Nevada Transportation Authority for more than a decade. The agency oversees the state’s taxicab companies, limousine services and charter transportation industry. He replaces control board member Philip Katsaros, who did not seek reappointment to his board position.


HEALTH CARE

Nearly 100,000 Nevadans signed up for health insurance this year
Nevada Health Link has announced that nearly 100,000 Nevadans have enrolled in qualified, affordable health insurance plans during this year’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which ran from November 1, 2022, through January 15, 2023.

Out of those who enrolled, about 18,000 were new enrollees, meaning they were not previously enrolled in a plan on the marketplace.


INFRASTRUCTURE

Senator Cortez Masto says Nevada will receive over $3.5 million to help road safety
U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that Southern Nevada will receive $3,539,000 through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program to support projects that will improve road safety and prevent roadway deaths across the Las Vegas valley. Senator Cortez Masto funded this program through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.


2023 Legislative Session Resources

Click here to view a list of Bills for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.

Click here to view the list of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.

Click here to view the list of Senate and Assembly Committees.


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