Opening remarks
Pies, Ides and Paddy’s
It has been quite an eventful week at the Legislature. Children’s Week kicked off on Monday, pies in all shapes and forms were enjoyed throughout the building Tuesday, the Ides of March came and went where absolutely nothing bad happened, March Madness brackets are in full swing, and tomorrow is the last Friday lawmakers have to introduce their bills this Session before the deadline on Monday, March 20, so I imagine there will be plenty of drinking outside the usual St. Paddy’s festivities.
After the 20th, the Legislature will become even busier! The next deadline is March 27, the last day for Committees and other requesters to submit their bills for this Session. After the 27th, nearly all of the bills for this Session will have been introduced, though there are exceptions to every rule. Budget bills are typically introduced toward the end of Session and have different deadlines. To read more on the official rules of the Senate and Assembly for legislative measures, click here.
Fun fact: The U.S. Bowling Conference Open Championship, currently hosting its 199th edition of the event in Reno at the National Bowling Stadium, lasts 143 days, which is 23 days longer than Nevada’s legislative sessions. So if any state lawmaker would like to be a bowling champion in the future, perhaps plan to compete in even-numbered years.
-Zoë
Important Dates
| Last Day for Bill Introductions | March 27 |
| First House Passage Deadline | April 25 |
| Second House Passage Deadline | May 26 |
| Last Day of the 82nd Session (sine die) | June 5 |
ICYMI
Washoe County Commission Chair Vaughn Hartung resigns
DCCC and NRCC announce key House races for 2024, both include Nevada
Whitmer ousted as Monroe-Moreno wins control of Nevada Democratic Party
#NVLEG
In State of the Judiciary, Chief Justice Stiglich pushes for judicial budget reforms
Why did Nevada lawmakers delete a committee video?
Freshman Orientation: Assemblyman Ken Gray supports smaller government
CANNABIS
Vegas council approves cannabis consumption lounge ordinance, keeps distance requirements
Las Vegas city officials made two changes before approving the consumption lounge ordinance during a meeting on Wednesday, with the city potentially issuing business licenses as soon as June.
The Council maintained the most contested portion of its ordinance governing cannabis consumption lounges — a requirement that lounges are at least 1,000 feet apart, although city leaders will be allowed to waive it with a city council vote.
EDUCATION
Nevada Childcare Fund
This week is Children’s Week at the Nevada Legislature, a weeklong event focused on raising awareness of children’s policy issues related to education, children’s mental and physical health and safety issues. It also marked the kick-off event for the Nevada Childcare Fund, a program created by the Nevada Division of Health and Human Services and The Children’s Cabinet to help parents and childcare providers gain access to funding and other resources to make childcare easier and more affordable. Learn more at the link above.
Bill to change Nevada State College to Nevada State University introduced
Yesterday, the Senate introduced SB273, a bill sponsored by a handful of legislators that proposes to change the name of Nevada State College to Nevada State University. This bill introduction follows last week’s 9-4 vote by the Board of Regents that kicked off the official name change process.
ENERGY
Regulators approve NV Energy gas plant, despite criticism from clean energy groups
The decision by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada will give the state’s largest energy provider a green light to spend about $350 million to build a new natural gas-fired power plant in Southern Nevada and connect what is known as a “peaking” power plant because it is only turned on when demand for electricity peaks.
ENVIRONMENT
Henderson City Council cuts water use for golf courses, lowers water rates
Last week, the Henderson City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that amends the city’s municipal code to reduce how much water golf courses are allowed to use from 6.3 acre-feet per year for each irrigated acre to 4 acre-feet per year. The changes will apply to local golf courses starting Jan. 1, 2024.
The reduced water allotment applies to all water used to irrigate golf courses, as well as on-site lakes, ponds, reservoirs and any irrigated outdoor areas on property that are landscaped and not taken up by a buildings, walkways, roads, pavement or parking lots, according to the ordinance.
ABB220: Las Vegas water agency seeks power to limit residential use
While some agencies across the U.S. West tie increased water use to increased cost, Nevada could be the first to give a water agency — the Southern Nevada Water Authority — the power to restrict what comes out of residents’ taps in state statute to about 30,000 gallons above the average use. It’s aimed mostly at the top 10% of water users that use 40% of the water in the residential sector, spokesperson Bronson Mack said.
“It’s a worst case scenario plan,” said the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Assemblyman Howard Watts of Las Vegas, of the residential limit. “It makes sure that we prioritize the must-haves for a home. Your drinking water, your basic health and safety needs.”
HEALTH CARE
Senate Majority Leader to Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Protect Abortion Rights, Reproductive Freedom
Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro announced Thursday she will introduce a constitutional amendment ensuring access to abortions. Cannizzaro also says her proposal would include protections for access to birth control, prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, vasectomy and tubal ligation, miscarriage management, and infertility care.
If it passes during the 2023 and 2025 legislative sessions, the amendment would appear on the 2026 general election ballot.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Las Vegas tourism board to consider selling Strip land for $125 million
This Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will consider selling 10 acres of land on the north end of the Strip for $125 million. The 10 acres are located at the southeast corner of Las Vegas and Elvis Presley boulevards, which was originally part of the Riviera’s footprint. 65SLVB LLC is listed as the buyer, led by developers Brett Torino and Paul Kanavos. According to the tourism board’s agenda, the LVCVA plans on using proceeds from the sale on its Convention Center renovation project. The sale must close by Sept. 11 this year.
2023 Legislative Session Resources
Click here to view a list of Bills of the 2023 Legislative Session.
Click here to view the list of upcoming committee meetings.
Click here to view the 120-Day Legislative Calendar.