This week’s headlines are dominated by election-related topics, including voter registration issues, initiative petitions and candidate announcements. The Secretary of State is facing criticism for delaying the rollout of a much-anticipated centralized voter registration and election system. Additionally, Republicans have initiated legal action against the Democratic Secretary of State and five local election officials. The lawsuit alleges that voter rolls in five counties are inflated, potentially violating the National Voter Registration Act, a federal law mandating accurate voter rolls maintenance. Furthermore, Lombardo attributes Nevada’s housing affordability crisis to a scarcity of available land for development. Explore more news links below!
Updates from the Governor’s Office
Carli Smith appointed GOED Communications Director
Carli Smith has been appointed the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Director of Communications. Smith succeeds Gregory Bortolin who has accepted a similar position at the City of North Las Vegas. (goed.nv.gov)
State and Local Government Updates
Does quest for minerals needed for clean energy endanger water supply?
Rover Critical Minerals, a publicly traded minerals exploration company in Canada, is seeking approval from the Bureau of Land Management to drill 20 bore holes into the groundwater table on public lands just north of the refuge. The company is hoping those holes uncover large deposits of lithium — a key component used in the batteries for electric vehicles. (Las Vegas Sun)
Business, civic groups want a say in CCSD’s next leader
Several community organizations collaborated on a letter this month encouraging the School Board to consider a national search for its next superintendent. (Las Vegas Sun)
People don’t want to go the DMV. The DMV is trying to make it so you don’t have to
DMV officials updated the legislative Interim Growth and Infrastructure Committee on new programs that are being implemented to help direct people toward online services and alleviate long wait times from in-person visits. (Nevada Current)
Lithium Americas to get massive federal loan to develop Thacker Pass mine
The U.S. government offered Canada-based Lithium Americas a financial lifeline Thursday to develop a Nevada lithium deposit that contains the largest-proven lithium reserves in North America. (The Nevada Current)
Secretary of state delays rollout of top-down voter registration system to July
More than a dozen county elections officials asked for the delay of the new system — originally set to go-live in April — because of unresolved problems revealed in a test run. (The Nevada Independent)
Teachers’ health insurance trust reports it will pay off $35M debt to CCSD in June
The health insurance trust for local teachers and their families will have little left in reserves after it repays its $35 million loan from the Clark County School District as planned this summer, but it will be clear of the major debt that has dragged down its recent audits, trust officials say. (Las Vegas Sun)
Judge rules Nevada Medicaid must cover abortion services
Ruling is a win for a Nevada nonprofit that supports abortion seekers, which said the program’s abortion coverage ban violated Nevada’s Equal Rights Amendment. (The Nevada Independent)
Student absenteeism rates improving, but above pre-pandemic levels
More than a third of Clark County School District students were chronically absent from school during the 2022-2023 school year, according to the state Department of Education. That’s a slight improvement from the prior school year, but it’s still much higher than the school district’s pre-pandemic chronic absenteeism rate of 21.9 percent. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Republicans accuse Nevada secretary of state of ‘impossibly high’ voter registration rates
The lawsuit, filed against Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and five local election officials, alleges that the voter rolls in five counties are inflated, thereby violating the National Voter Registration Act, a federal law requiring states to maintain accurate voter rolls. The Republicans assert that three counties — Douglas, Lyon and Storey — have more registered voters on the rolls than adult citizens, and two jurisdictions — Carson City and Clark County — have voter registration rates of more than 90 percent of the total adult population. (The Nevada Independent)
NSHE regent says he won’t resign after comments on transgender students draw backlash
Patrick J. Boylan, a member of the Nevada State Higher Education Board of Regents, defended the comments he made on transgender student-athletes at the March 1 meeting, telling the RGJ he has no intention of resigning. (Reno Gazette Journal)
State health officials last week terminated millions of dollars’ worth of grant agreements and awards for Nevada’s only statewide nonprofit dedicated to increasing the state’s low immunization rates, citing noncompliance with federal grant regulations, inadequate financial management and “possible fraudulent activities.” (The Nevada Independent)
In letter, Lombardo urges Biden to make more public land available for housing development
Lombardo attributed the heart of Nevada’s housing affordability problem to the lack of land available for development. (The Nevada Independent)
Rosen, Cortez Masto ask HHS to improve tribal access to mental health services
Nevada U.S. Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto called on Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra to improve tribal access to federal mental health services via a letter sent on March 14. (Nevada Current)
Nevada gets federal approval to test out Medicaid funds for housing
Nevada Medicaid recently received federal approval to use funds to cover housing and supportive services through Medicaid’s managed care providers. The pilot program will help an estimated 20,300 Nevadans who had identified themselves as homeless when applying for Medicaid. (Nevada Current)
Biden signs executive order to expand research on women’s health
President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order to expand the federal government’s research into women’s health, including midlife conditions such as menopause, arthritis, and heart disease, as well as issues specifically affecting women in the military. (Las Vegas Sun)
U.S. grants $2B loan to build lithium mine
The U.S Energy Department agreed Thursday to provide the $2.26 billion conditional loan to Canada-based Lithium Americas to help cover costs at its open pit mine deeper than the length of a football field near the Oregon line. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Expanded child tax credit stranded in U.S. Senate by GOP comparisons to welfare
WASHINGTON — One of the cheapest provisions aimed at helping low-income families has become a main sticking point for Republican senators as they negotiate a bipartisan tax package that attracted broad support in the U.S. House. (Nevada Current)
Desert tortoise imperiled by solar project, environmentalists say
In a rare move Monday, environmental watchdog Basin and Range Watch joined other groups in writing a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior to cancel the environmental permitting process one solar project is making its way through. The Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project would occupy about 2,430 acres of public land roughly 38 miles west of Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Legislation to address drug smuggling at southern border signed into law
The bipartisan legislation — Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life Act — was sponsored by Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Rick Scott, R-Fla.(Las Vegas Sun)
Articles of Interest
Nevada energy codes prove costly
Energy codes are not up to par in most of Nevada or across the country, costing residents money and further warming the planet, advocates said at a news conference Tuesday. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Uber-backed proposal seeks 20% cap on attorney fees in civil cases
A newly formed political action committee backed by Uber and a handful of Nevada business groups is proposing a ballot question that would cap how much Nevada attorneys can charge in fees for civil cases. (The Nevada Independent)
Nevada’s 2024 rental market stabilizing, but prices remains above pre-pandemic levels
Though experts predict 2024 could finally see more stable rents after rapid cost increases in recent years, many Nevada tenants are still feeling the strain as rents continue to outpace what is affordable for a person earning the median income in Nevada. (The Nevada Independent)
Indy Explains: Renown Health is a powerhouse in Northern Nevada. Is that a problem?
The Nevada Independent spoke with Renown’s CEO, Brian Erling, one year after he stepped into the role in December, along with a bevy of other health experts about the region’s most extensive hospital system. (The Nevada Independent)
Reno’s median home price dips for second straight month before busy spring season
Reno-Sparks’ median home price is up overall, but inventory remains significantly down from the same period last year. (Reno Gazette Journal)
Lake Tahoe remains murky after 25 years and a $2.9 billion investment
A nearly $3 billion effort shepherded by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency during the last two decades to ‘Keep Tahoe Blue’ has prioritized spending on recreation and transportation over improving water quality, according to the agency’s own data. (Nevada Current)
Bid to cap legal fees: Uber-backed plan: 20% tops civil lawyers can get
The “Nevadans for Fair Recovery Act,” an initiative petition filed with the secretary of state’s office on Monday by a group of the same name, aims to ensure plaintiffs receive “their fair share” of awards or settlements in civil cases by capping attorneys’ fees at 20 percent. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
A’s pitch in $200K to help youth baseball, softball
The Oakland Athletics gave Las Vegas Valley youth baseball and softball players 200,000 reasons to smile. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Trop staff gets marquee moment
More than 700 Tropicana employees’ names will be flashed on the resort’s marquee over the next two weeks as a tribute leading up to the April 2 closure of the historic property. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Indy Gaming: Bally’s may go private to deal with debt. Will it affect Vegas stadium?
The chairman of Bally’s Corp. wants to take the casino company private. What could this mean for the A’s stadium given its involvement? (The Nevada Independent)
Clark County learns lessons from first spin in decades around Las Vegas Grand Prix track
The Las Vegas Grand Prix generated close to $1.5 billion in overall economic impacts, but not without significant costs to residents and government workers, according to a debriefing presented Tuesday to the Clark County Commission. (Nevada Current)
Trump, GOP-led states argue presidential immunity claim to Supreme Court
Former President Donald Trump renewed his call to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to dismiss charges against him, asserting that presidents enjoy near-total immunity from criminal prosecution. (Nevada Current)
In Las Vegas campaign stop, Biden details plans to make housing more affordable
Amid a growing housing crisis in Nevada, as with the rest of the country, President Joe Biden called for investing billions of dollars to build more affordable units, expanding assistance for unhoused and low-income residents, and helping first-time homebuyers in a Las Vegas stop Tuesday. (Nevada Current)
County pushes F1 to submit 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix transportation plan by May 1
It’s no secret that transportation issues created challenges for the city’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. Now comes the hard part — how to fix them. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
$1.8B Sony movie studio backed by Mark Wahlberg approved for Summerlin
The massive project from Howard Hughes Holdings, the developer of Summerlin, and Sony Entertainment, which was approved Wednesday by the Clark County Zoning Commission, could create 10,000 jobs in west Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
‘We need hard answers’: County pushes F1 to fix transportation problems
Clark County commissioners on Tuesday heard a report detailing the problems that hindered last year’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix and ways to solve them going forward. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Las Vegas economic development official Ryan Smith dead at 36
The city announced the passing of Ryan Smith, director of urban and economic development for Las Vegas, on Wednesday. Smith worked for the city since 2018 and became the director of its economic and urban development agency in 2021. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Tropicana makes more preparations for demolition
A 10-foot demolition wall will be built around the resort site following the April 2 closure. A permit for the wall was filed with Clark County estimating the cost of the 5,098-foot enclosure to be $500,000. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
A’s community benefits plan on stadium group’s agenda
The Oakland Athletics’ development agreement for its planned Las Vegas ballpark is not on Thursday’s Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting agenda, but the potential approval of the team’s community benefits agreement is. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Stadium Authority approves community benefits agreement with the A’s
The Athletics have a formal community benefits agreement in place with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority — a document the Major League Baseball team never had in Oakland. (The Nevada Independent)
Nevada Gold Mines receives $95 million for solar project
Nevada Gold Mines has been awarded $95 million in federal funding to develop a solar photovoltaic and battery storage system at three of its active mines, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday. (The Nevada Independent)
Nevada v. Messenger: Why state wants to bar encryption for minors on app
The state alleges Meta violated the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act by misrepresenting itsMessenger app. It argued that Messenger is a preferred method for child predators to interact with Nevada minors because of its end-to-end encryption feature and that Meta did not tell consumers of the potential dangers. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Election News
Nevada’s GOP Senate hopefuls wait for an endorsement that may not come before the June primary
A Feb. 20 Emerson College poll shows Brown — who has earned the backing of the GOP’s Senate fundraising arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee — trailing Rosen by two percentage points in a hypothetical matchup, 40% to 38%, with 22% undecided. (Las Vegas Sun)
‘Scary’: Officials concerned for role AI can play in elections
Its findings — that around half of the AI models’ answers were inaccurate — reinforced concerns from some officials that the growing use of artificial intelligence could lead to voter suppression. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
7 battlegrounds that will decide who wins the presidency
President Biden and former President Trump each hit a key marker last week, clinching enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee of their respective party. (Yahoo.com)
Why is an elected official in California running for Nevada’s Senate seat?
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) only drew two Democratic primary challengers in her bid for re-election, but one of them, Mike Schaefer, has the distinction of currently holding elected office. (The Nevada Independent)
President Biden to meet volunteers in Reno Tuesday morning as 2024 cycle grows
The visit is part of an effort to build a robust ground game in Nevada, which his campaign team refers to as a “battleground state” that’s key to beating former President Trump in November. (Reno Gazette Journal)
President Biden Set to Address Nevadans in Las Vegas Campaign Stop
President Joe Biden is anticipated to make his way to Las Vegas on Tuesday, following a scheduled campaign event in Reno. The President’s itinerary includes delivering a speech in Las Vegas, although specifics regarding timing and venue have yet to be disclosed by the White House. (Nevada Globe)
Rosen Leads Republicans – But There Are Deep Signs of Uncertainty
As the 2024 Senate race in Nevada gains momentum, recent public opinion polling data from Noble Predictive Insights’ (NPI) latest Nevada Public Opinion Pulse (NVPOP) sheds light on the dynamics shaping the landscape. (Nobel Predictive Insights)
Sam Brown Secures Endorsement from grassroots Veterans group in Nevada US Senate Race
Concerned Veterans for America Action (CVA Action)–the “largest grassroots veteran’s organization–” will announce their support for Captain Sam Brown’s bid for the U.S. Senate to represent Nevadans in Washington, D.C. They will back Brown to “fix a broken VA health care system, revitalize the economy, and honor the sacrifices of America’s heroes.” (The Nevada Globe)
RNC, NVGOP Files Lawsuit Claiming Five Counties Violate NVRA
This article has been updated with a statement released by RNC Chairman. The Republican National Committee and the Nevada GOP have filed a lawsuit (see below) claiming five Nevada counties are violating the National Voting Rights Act (NVRA) by not maintaining clean and accurate voter rolls. (The Nevada Globe)
During Nevada swing, Biden lays out housing agenda, draws contrast with Trump
President Joe Biden kicked off his Tuesday swing through Nevada with a visit to the Washoe County Democratic Party headquarters, an effort to bolster his general election campaign with Northern Nevada leaders and volunteers. (The Nevada Independent)
Nevada 2024 Poll: Trump 44%, Biden 41%
A new Emerson College Polling/KLAS-TV/The Hill poll in Nevada finds 44% of voters support Donald Trump for president in 2024, and 41% support President Joe Biden. Fifteen percent are undecided. With the candidate undecided voters lean toward accounted for, Trump’s overall support increases to 51%, and Biden to 49%. (Emerson College Polling)
Republican National Committee sues Nevada over allegations of too many registered voters
The Republican National Committee made good this week on its threat to sue Nevada’s Secretary of State over allegations that too many people are on voter rolls. (Reno Gazette Journal)
Nevada delays launch of statewide voter registration system
Nevada is delaying the launch of a “top-down” voter registration database and election system until after the upcoming June primary, a decision made after 15 county election officials requested the scheduled spring launch be delayed. (Reno Gazette Journal)
“Basically, a jump ball”: Biden faces warning signs in key swing state Nevada
Allies of President Biden believe that of the six swing states everyone is watching, Nevada — which he won by two points in 2020, and where both U.S. senators are Democrats — could be especially tough. (AXIOS)
Mayoral candidate’s goal: Make Las Vegas most ‘transparent’ US city
Tera Anderson says she wants to help simplify Las Vegas’ government to attract outside industries and give aspiring local businesses an opportunity to flourish. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Walls hopes to leverage Chicago experience if elected Las Vegas mayor
Las Vegas mayoral candidate William “Dock” Walls is running in the nonpartisan race to replace term-limited Mayor Carolyn Goodman. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Veteran nurse, founder of medical flight company vying to be Las Vegas’ next mayor
Donna Miller wants to leverage her experience as a veteran nurse and founder of a medical flight company to lead Las Vegas into the future. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Upcoming Fundraisers
Nevada Senate Democrats endorse
Dallas Harris
Wednesday, March 27th at 3:30-5:00pm
Brio Italian Grille
6653 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
____________________________
Campaign kick-off event for
Nancy Bernstein
Thursday, March 28th at 5:30 pm,
Pepper Club
921 South Main Street in Las Vegas
__________________________________
Senate Democrats are supporting
Angie Taylor
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
at 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
RSVP for Address
RSVP to Berrer@nvsenatedems.com
Fundraising Luncheons to Support
The Nevada Senate Republican Caucus
Las Vegas
Thursday, March 28th
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Bonefish Grill
6527 S. Las Vegas BoulevardLas Vegas, NV 89119
Reno
Friday, March 29th
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Napa Sonoma
7671 South Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89511
| The Griffin Company is a full-service public policy and government affairs consulting firm based in Nevada. We believe a complete government affairs practice must be able to effectively navigate all levels of government, both with the laws and regulations, as well as with an understanding of and sensitivity to the politics associated with each issue. The Griffin Company provides clients with the breadth of experience – local, state, and federal – that enables a comprehensive approach, integrating policy and relationships at all levels of government. |
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