Welcome to the Tom Clark Solutions News Roundup! Here is where we'll keep you informed on what is happening in Nevada politics.
Opening remarks
It’s election season in Nevada, and political ads are filling the air. As candidates make their case to voters, the Legislature’s joint interim standing committees are wrapping up work that will help shape the 2027 session. Created through Assembly Bill 443, these committees can request bill drafts on issues within their jurisdiction.
In this edition, we look at the races and dates to watch, along with proposals emerging from the interim. First, we’re pleased to welcome Petter Parelius back to Tom Clark Solutions as a Government Affairs Associate.
Petter first joined TCS as a Policy and Public Affairs Intern, supporting legislative research, policy tracking, and client briefings. He recently graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he studied International Affairs and Business Administration. His experience in journalism, legal research, and business operations adds to the perspective he brings to issues affecting Nevada’s businesses and communities. We’ll let Petter introduce himself:
“Hello everyone, I’m excited to be back at Tom Clark Solutions. Although I’m originally from Petaluma, California, Nevada has become home to me, and I’m thrilled to begin the next chapter of my career here. I’m looking forward to supporting the firm and our clients on legislative, regulatory, and public policy issues across the state.”
With Petter on board and Election Day approaching on November 3, we have plenty to follow. Read on for the election outlook and a look at what may be on deck for the 2027 Legislative Session.
Election Outlook & Seats to Watch
Nevada’s 2026 election is entering its final stretch, led by the closely watched governor’s race between Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. Voters will also decide several statewide offices, all four U.S. House seats, all 42 Assembly seats, and 11 of the state’s 21 Senate seats. Recent polling has produced mixed results, reinforcing Nevada’s status as a closely divided battleground where turnout and late campaign developments will be critical. The Nevada Independent further notes that the Democratic Governors Association has placed about $13 million in ad buys supporting Ford's chance to flip the state, but incumbent governor's in Nevada have an impressive record in retaining their seat, not a perfect one, but notably consistent.
Control of the Legislature will be another major storyline. Eight Assembly districts—1, 2, 7, 9, 23, 29, 40, and 41—have no incumbent seeking reelection, ensuring significant turnover and new legislative leaders and committee chairs in 2027. Attention is focused on Senate Districts 8 and 12 and Assembly Districts 2, 9, 35, and 37. Democrats currently hold 27 Assemda’s 2026 election is entering its final stretch, led by the closely watched governor’s race between Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. Voters will also decide several statewide offices, all four U.S. House seats, all 42 Assembly seats, and 11 of the state’s 21 Senate seats. Recent polling has produced mixed results, reinforcing Nevada’s status as a closely divided battleground where turnout and late campaign developments will be critical.
The Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce will host its Conversations with Candidates series on October 7–9 and October 14–16, immediately before early voting begins. See the full schedule here.
During these intimate, moderated conversations, candidates for public office will discuss the issues affecting Northern Nevada’s employers and communities, including economic development, workforce, housing, education, infrastructure, public safety, and responsible government.
Our own Tom Clark, joined by members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, will interview participating candidates and give Chamber members an opportunity to hear directly from the individuals seeking to represent them.
The series is open to Chamber members. Not a member? Now is a great time tojoin.
Important Dates
Days Until
Early Voting Begins
October 17
24
Early Voting Ends
October 30
37
General Election
November 3
41
Early voting will run from Saturday, October 17, through Friday, October 30. Election Day voting will be available from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
And What’s on Deck for the 2027 Legislative Session?
Health Care Access and Workforce
Lawmakers are considering proposals to expand who can deliver care and how providers are reimbursed. Pharmacists could receive broader prescribing, dispensing, testing, and laboratory authority, along with coverage and reimbursement for services provided within their scope of practice. Other proposals address maternal health, Medicaid care coordination, intensive in-home services, substance-use treatment, and accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. Scope of practice, provider qualifications, and reimbursement will be major issues in 2027.
Insurance and Consumer Protection
Insurance proposals would strengthen homeowners cancellation protections, restrict auto-insurance rating factors, increase liability requirements for short-term vehicle lessors, and establish new wildfire-related underwriting standards. One proposal would also prohibit property insurers from denying coverage solely through an automated or AI-based decision. Lawmakers are separately considering a statewide prohibition on virtual-currency kiosks to address fraud targeting older and vulnerable Nevadans.
Tax Modernization and Economic Development
The Revenue Committee is pursuing taxes on digital products and subscriptions, ticket resales, tobacco products, and prediction-market revenue. At the same time, lawmakers are reconsidering data-center tax incentives and discussing a statewide moratorium tied to water, energy, and infrastructure concerns. Other proposals would expand aerospace incentives, double the affordable-housing tax credit cap, and create additional rural economic-development tools.
Education Funding and Governance
Education proposals focus on funding stability, special education, educator shortages, charter-school policy, and early-childhood governance. Priorities include revising hold-harmless and enrollment adjustments, developing a more cost-based special education formula, and strengthening workforce pipelines for teachers, counselors, psychologists, and CTE instructors. A proposed Department or Division of Early Childhood Development could reform programs currently spread across several agencies to strengthen the system for children and families.
Criminal Justice and Court Operations
The Judiciary Committee advanced proposals to end debt-based driver’s license suspensions for civil traffic citations, improve late-night jail-release practices, expand the role of domestic-violence advocates, and regulate automated license plate readers. Lawmakers are also considering new rules for electric bicycles and scooters. Juvenile competency timelines and geriatric parole eligibility drew the most disagreement.
Natural Resources Energy and Water
A major water omnibus would expand local groundwater governance, revise financing tools, support water-right retirement, and strengthen county participation in water-management decisions. Other proposals address wildlife crossings, healthy soils, cloud seeding, wildfire detection, and outdoor recreation stewardship. Water and energy demands associated with data centers are also connecting natural-resource policy with Nevada’s broader economic-development debate.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Transportation proposals include regional rail planning, expanded authority for high-capacity transit, and potential dedicated revenue sources. Other measures would extend off-highway vehicle trail connectors, regulate electric mobility devices, and support Tahoe transit through lodging-tax revenue. Tahoe lawmakers also advanced evacuation planning focused on roadway access, wildfire risk, and peak visitor populations.
Technology Privacy and Artificial Intelligence
Nevada lawmakers are considering standards for government use of artificial intelligence, including transparency, bias protections, data privacy, and meaningful human review. Automated license plate readers and AI-based insurance decisions are raising similar questions about accountability and surveillance. A proposed statewide framework for peer-to-peer rentals could also create new responsibilities for platforms offering vessels, motorcycles, and motor homes.
Finally, we would be remiss not to say, "Elections Matter!". This November will determine who takes office in 2027, while this interim’s proposals offer an early look at the issues they may face. We’ll continue tracking both as the legislative agenda takes shape. You can follow the 2027 Bill Draft Requests here.
Justice Department Issues Subpoenas for Voter Data in Nevada The Justice Department has issued seven subpoenas seeking voter-related information from Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar’s office as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to investigate alleged voter fraud. The subpoenas follow a broader push for sensitive voter data and claims that thousands of noncitizens were registered in Nevada—claims state officials dispute and federal officials have not substantiated. The effort has heightened concerns about voter privacy and federal interference in state-run elections ahead of the 2026 midterms.
EDUCATION
Nevada education reform proposals aim to tighten charter school rules and expand funding Nevada’s Interim Education Committee approved bill requests to strengthen charter school closure oversight, protect public funds when schools face financial distress, and create a dedicated account for closure costs. The committee also supported expanding “hard-to-fill” recruitment incentives to counselors, psychologists, and certain special education professionals, as well as consolidating early childhood programs under a new state department or division. The Commission on School Funding and CCSD are advancing similar proposals to fully fund special education and make state education funding more predictable. Recommendations include using prior October enrollment instead of quarterly counts, removing discretionary language from funding law, and establishing a minimum funding floor during economic downturns
ENVIRONMENT
Fires:Nevada's firefighting system is built to borrow. This season is already testing it.Nevada’s wildfire response system is under strain because about 80% of the state is federal land, requiring the state to rely heavily on federal, local and regional support for crews, aircraft and funding. Although the Division of Forestry has a $4.5 million base budget, average annual fire costs reach about $24 million through emergency funding .This season has exposed that pressure, with major fires burning at the same time across the West and limiting the resources available to move between incidents. Nevada has relied on mutual aid, the National Guard, federal partners and California support as large fires, including the Bug, Stallion and Hawk fires, stretched response capacity. State Forester Firewarden Ryan Shane said staff have been fully committed to fire suppression and emphasized fuel reduction as a long-term cost-saving strategy.
GAMING
Predication Markets:Football is back. So are prediction markets, but not in Nevada Football season has renewed attention on prediction markets, but Nevada residents remain blocked from using platforms such as Kalshi. Nevada banned these markets to protect its state gaming regulatory system, and a federal appeals court upheld the state’s position while broader litigation continues. Major Nevada operators, including Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, have avoided prediction markets to protect their gaming licenses. The issue is significant because national sports trading and wagering volumes are large, while Nevada’s licensed sportsbooks continue to operate under stricter state oversight. The dispute highlights a larger conflict between federal commodity regulation and Nevada’s authority over gaming markets.
HEALTHCARE
Nevada Medicaid begins outreach effort over work requirements Nevada will begin implementing Medicaid work requirements on Jan. 1, 2027. Adults ages 19 to 64 will generally need to complete at least 80 hours per month of work, education, job training, or community service, and eligibility renewals will move from once a year to every six months. The Nevada Health Authority began sending notices in September 2026 to about 250,000 enrollees, with additional outreach planned by text, email, and SilverSummit Healthplan. The state says many recipients may qualify for exemptions or already meet the requirements. Exempt groups include pregnant and postpartum individuals, people with disabilities or serious medical conditions, caretakers of children under 13, unemployed individuals, people receiving substance abuse treatment, and incarcerated individuals. Officials say the notices explain who is affected, what activities count, how to report compliance, and how to request an exemption. A prior estimate tied to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act projected that about 70,000 Nevadans could lose Medicaid coverage.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Is Nevada in for a wet and wild winter? Forecasters expect a very strong El Niño this winter, but Nevada’s weather impacts remain uncertain. Past strong El Niño years have produced different results in the state, ranging from very wet conditions to near-normal precipitation. The forecast matters because much of the Intermountain West remains in drought after a warm, dry winter and early snowmelt. A wetter winter could help, especially in parts of the Colorado River Basin, but runoff benefits are still unclear. Experts caution that one wet winter will not resolve long-term water challenges; several strong seasons would be needed to meaningfully improve river conditions.
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