Nevada Legislature

CARSON CITY – While some critics may never be convinced that Gov. Brian Sandoval should have agreed to support new tax revenue to balance the budget, the collection of reforms approved as part of the deal finalized this morning cannot be ignored.
From changes to Nevada’s collective bargain law allowing the reopening of labor agreements in emergencies to limiting teacher tenure to eliminating health insurance for newly hired state employees upon retirement – the changes approved in the 120-day legislative session by Democrats and Republicans could have far reaching impacts.

We all know the art of creating legislation is so unseemly that it is regularly compared to making sausage. But, unlike good sausage, does it have to leave a bad taste in your mouth?

The same thing happens every two years here in Carson City. The last days of the legislative session are always a wild time, as legislators hurry to finish up work within the 120-day deadline. Almost anything can happen. Rules are suspended, bills die only to be revived, new bills are introduced and voted on before anyone can have a chance to read and understand them.

A bill to allow police to collect DNA samples when booking someone for a felony arrested died in the Senate Finance Committee late Monday in the waning hours of the Nevada Legislature.Senate Maj...

Today is the final day for the 76th regular session of the Nevada Legislature, as lawmakers hurry to finish up work on a number of bills before time runs out.

It has been a session that has seen acrimony and record protests as legislators struggle to deal with the state's lagging economy. In the end, it was a Nevada Supreme Court decision that paved the way for a compromise between Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval and Democrats who control both houses of the legislature.

You can keep up with the happenings on this final day on our Live Updates page, or the live video feed from the legislature.

By Steven R. Lasco
As many of you know, May is National Bike Month. Here in Carson City, several events and rides were held, capped by Bike To Work Week from May 16-20 and the celebration on the 20th outside the Firkin & Fox. As reported, about 150 people came by to visit, enjoy others’ bikes, and get a chance to win a raffle prize. The Nevada Legislature passed two bills in its current session that benefit cyclists (see sidebar below).

Gov. Brian Sandoval reached agreement with Democratic and Republican leaders in the legislature on a budget deal this morning. The details of the agreement will be released at 2 p.m. You can follow all the latest news from the Nevada Legislature on our Live Updates page.

Update: See the attached document for budget details.

As the Nevada Legislature struggles with a huge budget deficit in its final days, I wonder why lawmakers don't close a flagrant existing tax loophole by charging sales taxes on purchases made on th...

As the Nevada Legislature struggles with a huge budget deficit in its final days, I wonder why lawmakers don't close a flagrant existing tax loophole by charging sales taxes on purchases made on th...

The Carson City Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting at 10:30 a.m. today to discuss the bill pending in the Nevada Legislature to withdraw the state from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency if certain conditions are not met. The agenda is here, and you can watch the live video here.

Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto talks about bills her office is working to get passed in the Nevada Legislature:

The end game is near at the Nevada Legislature. With two weeks to go before the 2011 adjourns, most of the action will be taking place in behind-the- scene huddles as lawmakers try to strike deals ...

As the end of the 2011 Nevada Legislature approaches, our elected representatives have yet to decide how to close a huge state budget deficit. Although many lawmakers talk about "doing more with le...

Dayton High School’s Culinary Arts class, one of Lyon County School District’s many Career and Education classes, prepared and served an elegant luncheon for Governor Brian Sandoval and area officials and community leaders Wednesday.

Thanking the students, Governor Sandoval said, “I had an opportunity last week to have lunch with former President George W. Bush at the Bellagio in Vegas. This lunch is every bit as good as what is offered at the Bellagio. This was very professional; the service was impeccable. You should be proud. You all have bright futures ahead of you.”

About 60 tents were pitched outside the Nevada Legislature on Tuesday to protest Gov. Brian Sandoval's budget. The protesters include a mix of students, public union employees and Democratic lawmak...

KOLO Channel 8 and KTVN Channel 2 Reno have video roundups on the first of a three-day protest at the Nevada Legislature where scores of students have pitched tents to show solidarity against proposed sta

Saying the Nevada Legislature needs to understand it has a deadline to pass a balanced budget, a senior advisor to Gov. Brian Sandoval told reporters Monday they won't move seamlessly from regular ...

The recent federal indictment of three Internet gambling websites should cause the Nevada Legislature to think twice before legalizing online poker, a risky proposition at best and a criminal enter...

By Andrew Doughman
CARSON CITY — A Republican Hispanic governor will soon decide the fate of a Democratic redistricting plan that has both political parties embroiled in a debate over fairness to Nevada’s Hispanic population.

A camp-out demonstration has been set for Monday through Wednesday at the Nevada Legislature in Carson City and is being led by a group of education supporters who favor a tax hike to fund schools.

By Sean Whaley
CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval is questioning whether the Nevada Legislature can have an in-depth debate about the state’s tax structure with less than four weeks left in the session, but he is about to find out.
In comments made Tuesday, Sandoval said he asked Democrats in January to present any proposals they wanted to be considered to raise revenue. Fourteen weeks later there is still no bill, he said.

By Andrew Doughman
CARSON CITY – Assemblyman John Ellison had a choice.
He wanted to push the red button, but he was supposed to push the green button.
The seconds ticked by on the floor of Nevada’s Assembly. In the wide angle shot, the other 41 members eagerly cast their votes. In the close-up shot, Ellison’s hand hovered over the green and red buttons. He hated it, but he punched the green one.
He had made a promise to vote ‘yes,’ and he voted ‘yes’ this time after voting ‘no’ the day before.

My fellow Nevadans, good evening.

Three months ago, I delivered a State of the State Address against the backdrop of record unemployment and sharply reduced state revenue. I believed then, as I do now, that by controlling state spending and changing the way we do business, we could bring about a sustained economic recovery that would get Nevada working again. And so tonight, I’m pleased to come before you with a second and more positive report on the state of Nevada’s economy.

By Andrew Doughman
CARSON CITY — State legislative Republicans have changed their proposals for new state Assembly districts.
The boundaries of some proposed districts were altered today after Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, publicly criticized Senate Republicans for their maps.

By Sean Whaley
CARSON CITY – Legislative Republicans today announced that they are introducing redistricting plans for the Assembly, Senate, and the state’s Congressional delegation that will “ensure fair representation for the people of Nevada.”

CARSON CITY – U.S. Rep. Joe Heck praised GOP Gov. Brian Sandoval in remarks to the Nevada Legislature today for proposing a budget that does not raise taxes, saying it is the way to an economic recovery.
Heck, R-Nev., also expressed appreciation for Republican lawmakers who so far this session have supported Sandoval’s no new taxes or fees position during the lengthy review of his two-year, $5.8 billion general fund budget.

By Andrew Doughman
CARSON CITY — The Legislature played host to a former director of the CIA yesterday, who came to voice support for a renewable energy bill.
James Woolsey, director of the CIA between 1993 and 1995, said the passage of the bill is a matter of national security.
Senate Bill 184 would establish a “feed-in tariff” program in Nevada, which would allow small-scale solar, wind, geothermal and other energy producers to “feed in” their energy to the grid.

CARSON CITY – As Gov. Brian Sandoval today said it is premature to speculate on who he will appoint to replace GOP U.S. Senator John Ensign, Democrats in the Nevada Legislature said they will seek a resolution urging a “fair, open, and transparent process for appointing a temporary replacement.”

CARSON CITY – Recently announced U.S. Senate candidate Shelley Berkley spoke to the Nevada Legislature today, stressing education, infrastructure and energy independence as ways to create jobs and get the state back on track.

CARSON CITY – Lawmakers took time some away from the budget and other pressing issues today to honor former Sen. Bill Raggio, a fourth-generation Nevadan and the longest-serving member of the state Senate who retired earlier this year.

CARSON CITY – Bills related to immigration at the Nevada State Legislature did not make it past an important deadline last week.
One bill from Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno, would have required Nevada to use an electronic database to verify a person’s employment eligibility.