Bill Hearings
AB5
AB5, a bill that is intended to provide clarification on when decisions made by the Division of Water Resources are subject to being challenged through judicial review, was heard by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. Committee members were concerned over the language potentially providing a possibility of giving the State Engineer too much power in these decisions. Those in opposition believe that this bill will limit the public’s access to the justice system by changing a statute that has provided equal and inclusive access for over a century.
AB6
AB6, a bill that is intended to resolve existing statute to allow the State Engineer the discretion to hold meetings on temporary-change applications, was heard by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. Committee members wanted clarification on what the process of these meetings currently is and what the impact on the public interest in these measures will be if this bill is passed. Those in opposition believed that this bill would limit public access to receiving these temporary adjustments.
AB114
AB114, a bill that is intended to open the market for more electric vehicle companies to sell directly to consumers, was heard by the Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure. Committee members were interested in whether these companies would be interested in going into the dealership model that currently exists. Those in support believe that this bill would allow for more opportunities for consumers in Nevada to receive support services. Those in opposition believe that this bill goes against existing statute and urge the Committee to recognize big-name industries as being the most likely to produce new EVs.
AB118
AB118, a bill that is designed to align existing Nevada statute with federal recommended best practices regarding child car restraints, was heard by the Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure. Committee members were primarily concerned with the programs that are currently in place to inform the public on how to properly install car restraints in their vehicles. There were no callers for public testimony.
AB141
AB141, a bill that will expand the timeline for no cause evictions from 30 days to 60-90 days dependent on time spent in the residence, was heard by the Assembly Committee on Judiciary. Committee members asked questions that clarified where the numbers came from and whether the bill was intended to be long-term or responsive to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those in support believe that this bill will protect tenants from evictions during a critical time. Those in opposition have concerns over the Section 1 of the bill not specifying that it was for COVID-19 response despite testimony stating it would be in response to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.
AB147
AB147 allows for a board of county commissioners to create their own county counsel that is separate from the district attorney’s office. This is a repeat of bill AB 539 from last session, which was introduced to late to make it out of the assembly. Former Senator Tick Segerblom lent his support of the bill, stating that there was an inherent ethical conflict created by having an elected official represent another body of elected officials. There was a lot of discussion in opposition to the bill mainly from district attorneys that argued there were already professional standards in place to address ethical dilemmas should they occur.
SCR1
SCR1, a resolution that encourages employers in Nevada to remain vigilant about their employers’ safety by providing PPE, was heard by the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor. Committee members had no questions. Shannon Chambers, the Nevada Labor Commissioner, expressed that she supports this measure and would ensure that Nevada employers would be made aware of this language. Those who testified in neutral said they wanted the bill to clarify the facial coverings demonstrated by the presenter.
SB11
SB11, a bill that would allow for incorporated cities to impose a supplemental services tax on the valuation of a vehicle, was heard by the Senate Committee on Revenue and Economic Development. Committee members asked questions about how the county would be impacted by this legislation if passed. Those in support believe that this is a good use of accessible and unused funds. Those in opposition do not believe taxes should be raised at this time.
SB17 and SB29
Both of the DMV’s bills, SB17 & SB29, were heard on the assembly side Thursday. SB17 gives them permission to license driving schools that don’t have a physical location. From the DMV’s perspective it was either shut them down, let them continue to operate illegally, or change the law. SB29 allows them to partner with 3rd parties to help issue salvage titles. Both bills were received warmly by the committee on growth and infrastructure.
SB45
SB45 is a bill brought forth by the Nevada Attorney General, designed to enhance the state’s ability to combat domestic violence in Nevada. The bill adds sexual assault and human trafficking to the domestic violence ombudsman’s duties to help support all victims. It also adds a member from the court administrator, and the department of public and behavioral health to the Committee on Domestic Violence. It also changes the minimum incarceration time for causing substantial bodily harm to a pregnant woman, a misdemeanor, to 30 days, maximum 6 months.
SB57
SB57 was created after repeated code violations were voiced to the Clark County Board of Commissioners. This bill allows unpaid fees or fines to be applied as a special assessment to an owner’s property tax after they reach a $5000 minimum. The idea here is that after a certain point, unpaid fees are turned into a lien on the property that an owner technically does not have to pay unless they sell their property. There was a lot of opposition from short term rental operators that claim this is a violation of their right to private property. Others that support this legislation cited problems with prostitutes and violence coming into otherwise peaceful neighborhoods because of these short -term rentals.
SB73
SB73, a bill that would allow for certain taxes to fund certain natural resource projects in the City of Reno, was heard by the Senate Committee on Revenue and Economic Development. Committee members asked questions about how this would impact surrounding neighborhoods and how this impacts redevelopment areas. Those in support believe that the city should continue to prioritize providing current and future residents with more outdoor spaces for better quality of living. Those in opposition believe that this is the wrong time to raise taxes on residents and there are more issues that take priority.
SB122
SB122, a bill that would require all employees of a cannabis companies to participate in an OSHA training course, was heard by the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. Committee members asked questions that clarified what workplace risks cannabis employees face and whether these protections would still apply under certain circumstances. Those in support of this bill believed that it is in the best interest of the industry to provide these benefits. Those in opposition believe that the bill is too overreaching as written.
SB148
Senator Dallas Harris introduced SB148 to codify the reporting of hate crimes in Nevada and to make sure that data is transmitted to the FBI. Although this is currently being done in practice, it is not statutorily required. Senator Hansen noted that crimes based on a person’s sex were missing from the bill and that classifying a crime based on immutable characteristics of a victim was a slippery slope to go down.
SB154 and SB156
Senator Ratti has a plan to address mental health care in the state this session. She introduced SB156 & SB154 to the Senate Health and Human services committee on Tuesday. SB156 builds off of AB66 from the previous session, by allowing more subacute facilities to function as crisis stabilization centers outside of psychiatric hospitals. These centers are part of the crisis now model that is currently in Phoenix, AZ. The centers provide a living room model to mental health patients to encourage active engagement in problem solving and de-escalating their mental health issues. SB154 allows Medicaid to apply for an Institution for Mental Disease Exclusion waivers so that when a person is admitted those costs can be reimbursed. This is a way to allow for long term care to be given to mental health patients that need longer than the 15 days currently allowed by managed care organizations.
Presentations
Division of Water Resources Presentation
On March 1, Adam Sullivan, acting Nevada State Engineer, provided a presentation on the Division of Water Resources that went over the existing challenges faced by the Division and goals to accomplish. Committee members were interested on mining organizations water property rights as well as the recent Pahrump Valley decision made by the Nevada Supreme Court.
Floor Votes
March 4th– Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 41, Nays: None, Excused: 1.) To Senate.
March 4th– Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 41, Nays: None, Excused: 1.) To Senate.
March 4th – Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 41, Nays: None, Excused: 1.) To Senate.
March 4th-Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 41, Nays: None, Excused: 1.) To Senate.
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