The G3Wire

May 30, 2025

The last days of the Legislative session are upon us! Steve Yeager, speaker of the Nevada Assembly, said on Nevada Newsmakers there is a good possibility of a special session of the Legislature later this year to deal with cuts in federal appropriations. Many state lawmakers are concerned that the push in the Republican-controlled Congress to cut spending could mean less money for Nevada for Medicaid, health insurance for children, food assistance, highway construction, grants for education, staffing and maintenance of public parks and various other programs. Elon Musk has officially left the Trump administration, capping the billionaire tech entrepreneur’s turbulent four-month run leading a contentious effort to slash the federal government. And Las Vegas is one of hundreds of jurisdictions across the U.S. that the Trump administration labeled as a “sanctuary” for undocumented immigrants Thursday, a classification the city’s mayor and Nevada’s governor flatly reject. These Nevada News links and lots more below!

Legislative Updates

Studio proposal advances

A proposal to bring Hollywood studios to Southern Nevada advanced in the Nevada Assembly during a weekend hearing — with financial safeguards and educational funding reforms intended to make the $1.6 billion transferable tax credit program more palatable to lawmakers. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

It’s the last week of the legislative session. Here are 4 things to watch.

The Nevada State Constitution requires the Legislature pass the K-12 education budget bill before other budget bills. But that doesn’t seem to stop lawmakers from bickering about education policy until the very end of each session. (Nevada Current)

As culture wars flare at libraries, Nevada lawmaker seeks to move book ban decisions to courts 

The bill would limit the power of local library staff and trustees to remove books, instead tasking courts with deciding whether materials are truly “obscene.” (The Nevada Independent)

Is Lombardo staying true to his no taxes pledge? A bill signing raises questions

On Thursday, Lombardo signed SB451, which will renew an expiring 0.2 percent property tax, and AB530, which will allow Clark County to adjust fuel taxes to ensure transportation funding keeps pace with rising costs. (The Nevada Independent)

Massive Nevada film tax credit expansion moving forward with new earmarks for pre-K

The Assembly Committee on Ways and Means approved AB238 on Saturday with major amendments that also include significant new investment thresholds that developers and film production companies must meet. (The Nevada Independent)

2025 Lombardo Veto Tracker: Bipartisan ballot drop box bill rejected

The Nevada Independent is tracking all of Gov. Joe Lombardo’s vetoes stemming from the 2025 legislative session, on the heels of a 2023 session when he blocked a record-breaking 75 bills. (The Nevada Independent)

Live Updates: The Nevada Legislature’s 2025 second house deadline

Eight measures died Friday, including a proposed constitutional amendment that could have dramatically increased property tax revenue for schools. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada nonpartisans could vote in party primaries under bill brought by top lawmaker

The state’s largest voting bloc has been shut out of party primaries. Top elected from major parties opposed a measure with open primaries last year. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada Supreme Court announces plans for dedicated business court

Chief Justice Douglas Herndon intends to file a petition next month with the Nevada Supreme Court to approve the creation of a Commission to Study the Adjudication of Business Law, according to a media release. Herndon’s announcement comes on the heels of Assembly Joint Resolution 8, a proposal to amend the Nevada State Constitution to establish a dedicated business court. (Nevada Current)

State-commissioned analyses: Nevada film tax credit expansion likely not sustainable

The independent analyses questioned the sustainability of the proposals. Lawmakers had previously only seen rosier estimates from project proponents. (The Nevada Independent)

At Lombardo’s request, Hansen ‘reluctantly’ blocks bill to rein in runaway corporate home ownership

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo asked the Republican legislative caucus to block a bill that attempts to limit cash-rich corporate investors from purchasing large swaths of housing in Nevada, Republican state Sen. Ira Hansen said on Tuesday.  (Nevada Current)

Nevada nonpartisans could vote in party primaries under bill brought by top lawmaker

In what is likely the most consequential election proposal so far this session, Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager’s (D-Las Vegas) proposal would significantly expand the voting options of the largest voting bloc in Nevada. (The Nevada Independent)

As end of session nears, Nevada senator proposes merging film 2 tax credit expansion plans

The proposed merger would allow for two studio sites, albeit with lower film tax credit allocations for each of them (but with a higher overall total). Assm. Sandra Jauregui, the other bill’s sponsor, said she had not heard anything. (The Nevada Independent)

Yeager: Special session possible after federal cuts finalized

State lawmakers are concerned the push in Congress to cut spending could mean less money for Medicaid, highway construction, education and various other programs. (Nevada Appeal)

How big an impact would film tax bill make on Nevada pre-K?

The latest projections provided by proponents of one measure indicate that the film tax credits are expected to generate an average of nearly $12 million annually for pre-K programs in the county. (The Nevada Independent)

Last-minute Nevada bill would let nonpartisans vote in Republican, Democratic primaries

If nonpartisans in Nevada want to vote in major races in primary elections, such as U.S. Congress, governor and the Nevada Legislature, they’ve long had to switch their party affiliation temporarily to Republican or Democrat. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Eight years later, why are Lombardo and lawmakers trying to scale back Clark County schools’ reorganization?

Eight years after the reorganization of Clark County schools, two bills propose suspending or removing parts of the law altogether as part of broader school accountability efforts.  (The Nevada Independent)

Amendment to allow at-will firing of Reno planning commissioners stripped from bill

A plan by the Reno City Council for control over appointing and firing planning commissioners has been nixed at the Nevada Legislature. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Lawmakers debate Lombardo’s big health care bill as clock ticks toward end of session

Hygienists are concerned about an expedited licensing path, and lawmakers also questioned a plan to speed up insurance approvals for certain trusted providers. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada film credit expansion backers still confident despite critical reports

Sen. Roberta Lange (D-Las Vegas) criticized a state-commissioned report, saying the analysis of her film tax credit bill had “flawed and misleading conclusions.” (The Nevada Independent)

Lombardo softens parts of his crime bill, but lawmakers say it’s still too harsh

Presented in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in a nearly six-hour hearing — its first this session — SB457 would impose harsher sentences for repeat offenders and for a large swath of crimes, including possession of child pornography, as well as lower the thresholds for burglary to be considered a felony offense.. (The Nevada Independent)

Teacher pay raise bill introduced–Public charter schools focus of Titus’ action

Nevada Senate Minority Leader Robin Titus introduced an emergency bill Wednesday that would give pay raises to public charter school teachers. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Nevada bill would allow payment-only banks–Yeager: Move would cut back on transaction fees

 A top Legislative Democrat proposes establishing a new type of bank in Nevada solely for processing payments to reduce small transaction fees that add up as money moves through financial systems. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Lombardo’s housing bill unanimously approved by Assembly

Governor Joe Lombardo’s multi-faceted bill on how to address Nevada’s housing crisis advanced through a key vote in the Nevada Legislature on Wednesday evening. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Lawmakers debate Lombardo’s big health care bill as clock ticks toward end of session

Hygienists are concerned about an expedited licensing path, and lawmakers also questioned a plan to speed up insurance approvals for certain trusted providers. (The Nevada Independent)

Lombardo softens parts of his crime bill, but lawmakers say it’s still too harsh

The governor toned down his crackdown on fentanyl and burglary while holding fast to a lower felony theft threshold. His bill aims to reverse changes from 2019. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada governor’s ‘attainable housing’ bill passes key vote

The Assembly unanimously approved his proposal to fund “attainable housing” projects and reduce barriers in developing more residential supply in the state. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Bill to increase Family Court privacy may pass

A bill that would increase privacy in Family Court but could chill speech and press freedoms might pass both chambers of the Nevada Legislature.  Senate Bill 432, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, sets guidance for family courts on the sealing and opening of records and authorizes a judge to exercise discretion on closing a hearing if it serves a “compelling interest.” (Las Vegas Review Journal)

CCSD police data bill passes–Act makes officers’ use of force public

A proposed law would mandate that the Clark County School District make available public data about its police department’s use of pepper spray, stun guns and batons. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Insulin cap, charter school raises pass–Senators’ OK moves bills on to governor

The Nevada Senate passed key bills put forward by Speaker Steve Yeager on Thursday, including one that would cap the cost of insulin at $35 for people on private insurance, and one that would provide raises to charter school teachers. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Titus unveils bill increasing minimum wage

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., introduced a bill Thursday to increase the minimum wage and subminimum wage. The Labor Income Fairness and Transparency (LIFT) Act would raise the minimum wage, and all Fair Labor Standards Act subminimum wages to $17 per hour over the next three years followed by annual increases, according to Titus’ office. It would also provide income protections for tipped workers and expand the earned income tax credit to cover more workers. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Legislators mull youth internet limits–Bill puts restrictions on social media use

Nevada legislators are considering a bill aimed at protecting children on the internet, though opponents say it goes too far.  Senate Bill 63, called the Nevada Youth Online Safety Act, puts into place restrictions on a child’s use of social media. It prohibits digital platforms from using their personal information in an algorithmic recommendation system and prohibits the platforms from collecting and processing children’s personal data. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Gender-neutral measure triggers debate in Senate

A fierce debate over gender politics played out in the Nevada Legislature Wednesday night when lawmakers moved a bill to codify gender neutral titles in one chamber. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Nevada state worker unions could miss out on raises, other benefits under amended bill 

Thousands of state workers would receive one-time retention bonuses and no longer earn the 3 percent annual raises they negotiated through collective bargaining, if a proposal amended in the Assembly on Thursday becomes law. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada state worker unions could miss out on raises, other benefits under amended bill 

In today’s edition of Behind the Bar, why 10 legislators abstained from an antisemitism bill and an amendment to a bill on nonpartisan voting in primaries. (The Nevada Independent)

Will a $7,600 price tag derail a bill to better track utility shutoffs in Nevada?

Just two weeks after an investigation found that NV Energy overcharged tens of thousands of customers over the span of more than two decades, likely resulting in the shutoff of electricity for some customers, state lawmakers have stalled a bill that would require the utility to provide quarterly updates of where utility shut offs are occurring in the state. (The Nevada Independent)

Politicians, scared of truly open primaries, offer ‘limited’ alternative for nonpartisan voters

A ballot measure to establish an open-primary, ranked-choice voting system in Nevada may have been rejected by voters last November, but its underlying message of voter disenfranchisement clearly struck a chord with Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager.  (Nevada Current)

State and Local Government Updates

Boosting county salaries–Clark County employees have over 100 ways to get additional pay

In Clark County, the largest of the local governments, four of the 10 most highly compensated employees last year cashed out vacation and sick leave in the six figures. The largest cash-out was more than $260,000, according to data obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal through a public records request. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

CCSD has new regalia policy–1 day after court’s graduation ruling

The Clark County School District has a new policy on graduation regalia, after a judge ruled that graduating students have the right to wear certain attire that represents “lawful, protected forms of expression.” (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Unemployment claims in Nevada increased last week

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Nevada rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Enviro groups sue to halt construction of NV Energy’s massive transmission line

Federal agencies violated federal law when approving NV Energy’s controversial Greenlink West power line spanning from Las Vegas to Reno, groups say. (The Nevada Independent) 

‘Not a sunny day for our industry:’ Nevada gaming regulators OK another anti-money laundering fine

This week’s Indy Gaming provides insight into $24.5 million in fines levied by state regulators on three companies. Also, higher illegal gambling fines coming. (The Nevada Independent)

Clark County public works official placed on leave

The county has placed its head of construction management on administrative leave while it continues an investigation into a potential conflict of interest involving his wife’s firm. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

‘Incredibly honored’: Henderson welcomes new police chief

A veteran Metro officer who rose through the ranks to become a deputy chief was announced as the Henderson Police Department’s next chief of police. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Groundwater is rapidly declining in the Colorado River Basin, satellite data show

As the Colorado River’s giant reservoirs have declined during the last two decades, even larger amounts of water have been pumped and drained from underground, according to new research based on data from NASA satellites. (Las Vegas Sun)

Federal Updates

What happened to promises to ease marijuana policy?

For the first time in generations, a major overhaul of federal drug policy appeared imminent.
During his final year in office, former President Joe Biden moved to downgrade marijuana from the government’s most restrictive class of drugs.  The change would not legalize recreational cannabis under federal law, but would remove it from a category that includes heroin and make it easier for scientists to study marijuana’s therapeutic uses. (Las Vegas Sun)

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ mostly benefits Nevada’s wealthiest

The tax benefits in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will only be big and beautiful for Nevadans’ wealthiest households, according to a new analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (Nevada Current)

More than 3 million people would lose SNAP benefits under GOP bill, nonpartisan report says

The massive tax and spending bill passed by U.S. House Republicans would likely result in 3.2 million people losing food assistance benefits, and saddle states with around $14 billion a year in costs, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.  (Nevada Current)

Elon Musk leaves the Trump administration, capping his run as federal government slasher

Elon Musk has officially left the Trump administration, capping the billionaire tech entrepreneur’s turbulent four-month run leading a contentious effort to slash the federal government. (Reno Gazette Journal)

In Vegas, Vance urges crypto industry to stay involved in politics, touts Trump administration’s record

Speaking at a bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, Vance urged the crypto executives and enthusiasts to keep pressure on Congress. (The Nevada Independent) 

Trump’s tariffs blocked by court–Ruling: President exceeds authority

A federal court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping reciprocal tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law, throwing into doubt Trump’s signature set of economic policies. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Vance: Administration backing cryptocurrency–Trump’s 3-prong plan to unshackle industry

Vice President JD Vance told thousands of cryptocurrency enthusiasts at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference on the Las Vegas Strip on Wednesday that “this isn’t a conference of people; this is a movement.” (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Titus proposes big boost in U.S. minimum wage

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., introduced a bill Thursday to increase the minimum wage and subminimum wage. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

LV gets ‘sanctuary’ label from Trump–Mayor, governor object, seek change

Las Vegas is one of hundreds of jurisdictions across the U.S. that the Trump administration labeled as a “sanctuary” for undocumented immigrants Thursday, a classification the city’s mayor and Nevada’s governor flatly reject. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

DHS adds ‘Las Vegas City’ to sanctuary cities list; officials say it’s a mistake

The Department of Homeland Security today listed “Las Vegas City” as a sanctuary jurisdiction for immigration enforcement, writing in a news release that the hundreds of jurisdictions included “are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”  (Las Vegas Sun)

Titus: Trump administration taking ‘first step’ to close Sierra Nevada Job Corps Center

The United States Department of Labor has halted background checks for students entering the state’s job corps, a training program for low-income people ages 16 through 24, Rep. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, wrote in a letter to the department. (Las Vegas Sun)

Election News Updates

Danny Tarkanian announces 2026 run for Nevada attorney general seat

Danny Tarkanian announced his campaign May 28 for the 2026 Republican Nevada attorney general race. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Articles of Interest

Feds launch environmental review process for second major airport near Las Vegas

After more than two decades of delays federal officials are starting an environmental review for Clark County’s long-anticipated second commercial airport. Local and federal officials have long sought to build a new airport on 6,000 acres in the Ivanpah Valley north of Primm, arguing the Harry Reid International Airport will not be able to keep up with projected demand for air travel without the supplemental airport. (Nevada Current)

Homebuying options remain slim for middle-income earners

Like many moderate-income workers, public school teachers Julia and Scott Whitnall didn’t think they’d become homeowners in their early 30s. Especially in California. (Nevada Current)

Are you middle class in Nevada? Making $160,000 counts in these cities

You can make more than $180,000 and still be considered middle class in one Nevada city, a new study found. (Reno Gazette Journal) 

Jobless rate for LV dips, but high–5.2% is drop from 6.4% last summer

Las Vegas’ jobless rate has improved over the past several months but remains one of the highest in the nation among big metro areas, new data shows. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Suit filed over Greenlink West–Environmentalists oppose transmission line

Two Nevada environmental groups are suing the federal government over its approval of Greenlink West, a 472-mile NV Energy transmission line that would run from the Las Vegas Valley to the Reno area. Las Vegas Review Journal)