Updates from the Governor’s Office
Today, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak released highlights from the 2023-2025 budget. The Economic Forum recently finalized the revenue projections the Governor must use in developing the Executive Budget for the next biennium. The budget prepared by the Sisolak administration will be handed off to the incoming administration at the end of the Governor’s term on January 2. The new administration will be responsible for submitting a final budget ahead of the 2023 Legislative Session. The full press release can be found here.
Here is a look at some of the current budget highlights:
- An approximate 10 percent raise for State employees in the first year of the biennium, with an approximate 5 percent raise in the second year.
- A historic amount of money is included in the budget for Nevada’s K-12 pupil centered formula funding. The latest figures approved by the Economic Forum project $8.2 billion being available over the biennium. It is the Governor’s hope and desire that school districts will use funding to invest in educators by raising salaries for existing teachers and offering higher starting salaries for new educators.
- Additional education investments of more than $18 million including funding for education nonprofits like Spread the Word Nevada, workforce training at Nevada’s community colleges, funding to enhance the medical school programs at both University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and additional financial assistance for graduate assistants across the Nevada System of Higher Education.
- Funding for more than half a dozen additional affordable housing projects. The Governor’s budget also includes the creation of a $100 million affordable housing revolving loan fund.
- investments to the State’s mental health facilities, including $30 million to develop the master plan at the Southern Nevada facilities to include crisis stabilization centers and $20.3 million for the Northern Nevada facility to build additional supportive housing units.
- Ensuring there is an adequate network of providers is vital to the health of Nevadans and a rate increase for some Medicaid provider types.
- Over the biennium, more than $157 million is proposed to increase foster care rates, support specialized homes to care for children with autism/intellectual and development delays and Commercially Sexually Exploited Children.
- $5 million to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust for an educational campaign to fight antisemitism.
- A monumental investment for additional support for the Nevada Clean Energy Fund.
Updates from the Governor – Elect’s Office
Governor-elect Joe Lombardo announces date for State of the State address
Governor-Elect Joe Lombardo has announced his transition team and working committees ahead of taking office in January. Along with the announcement of Ben Kieckhefer as his incoming Chief of Staff, Elizabeth Ray as his Communications Director, Jim Wells as his incoming Deputy Chief of Staff, and Michele Shull as his incoming Executive Assistant, he has named the Transition Team Working Committee Chairs:
- Agriculture and Ranching Working Committee
- Chair Dr. J.J. Goicoechea, Eureka County Commissioner and Interim State Veterinarian for the Nevada Department of Agriculture
- Economic Development Working Committee
- Chair Mike Kazmierski, President and CEO, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada
- Education Working Committee
- Co-Chair Sig Rogich, former United States Ambassador, former Assistant to the President of the United States, and Chair of the Public Education Foundation for 23 years
- Co-Chair Lori Rogich, Attorney, Owner of Rogich Law Firm, PLLC, and Parent Advocate
- Energy Working Committee
- Chair Karen S. Haller, President and CEO of Southwest Gas Holdings
- Environment, Land, and Wildlife Working Committee
- Chair Mike Reese, Lincoln County Commissioner
- Government Reform Working Committee
- Chair Scott Muelrath, President and CEO of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce
- Healthcare Working Committee
- Chair Catherine O’Mara, JD, Division Vice President of Government Relations at HCA Healthcare and former Executive Director of the Nevada State Medical Association
- Infrastructure and Transportation Working Committee
- Chair Bob Lucey, Washoe County Commissioner
- Military, Service, and Veterans Working Committee
- Chair Wes Duncan, Sparks City Attorney, Iraq War Veteran, and current Air Force Reservist
- Mining Working Committee
- Chair David Goldwater, Partner at Pinyon Public Affairs and former State Legislator
- Public Safety, Law Enforcement, and Corrections Working Committee
- Chair George Togliatti, Director of the Nevada Department of Public Safety
- Real Estate, Housing, and Construction Working Committee
- Chair Ann Barnett, CEO of the Nevada Contractors Association
- Small Business Advisory Working Committee
- Co-Chair Lorraine Marshall, President and CEO of Irenic Consulting Group, LLC and Battle Born Burgers, LLC
- Co-Chair Clifton Marshall, President and CEO of AC, LLC dba Airport Concessionaires
- Technology, Innovation, and Modernization Working Committee
- Chair Betsy Fretwell, Executive Vice President of Strategy, Switch
- Tourism, Gaming, and Sports Working Committee
- Chair Mike Britt, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications at Red Rock Resorts, Inc.
- Water Working Committee
- Chair John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority
- Workforce Development Working Committee
- Chair Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce
Legislative Update
Days until session begins: 45
Clark County Commission unanimously selects Assemblywoman Rochelle Nguyen to serve Senate District 3
The list of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) is available on the Legislature’s website. As of December 23, 2022, 892 BDRs have been submitted by various entities to the Legislative Counsel for drafting. Additionally, 138 bills have been pre-filed and are available on the legislative website.
Articles of Interest
Rosen and Titus’ proposal for new federal tourism strategist passes (NV Independent)
Nye County commissioners appoint Michele Fiore as Pahrump justice of the peace (NV Independent)
Clark County OKs cannabis lounge rules; Lounges could open in 2023 (LVRJ)
Nevada charter schools continue their steady growth, make some diversity gains (NV Current)
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