Legislature

CARSON CITY – Efforts in the Legislature to amend Nevada’s constitution failed for the most part to move forward today as a deadline hit to get measures passed out of committee.
Measures creating a lottery, repealing the minimum wage and allowing tax dollars to be spent on religious schools all failed to advance.
One of the most significant failures came on the issue of vouchers for religious schools. Two measures, including one introduced by Gov. Brian Sandoval, did not make it out of committee by the deadline.

CARSON CITY — A bill that would partially ban smoking on college campuses passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee today.
Assemblyman Paul Aizley, D-Las Vegas, amended Assembly Bill 128 to require colleges and universities to establish campus smoking zones outside of which a person would not be able to smoke.
Under the amendment, the smoking zones would have to be a reasonable distance away from walking paths and doorways.

The Nevada legislature just gave the finger to every law enforcement officer who daily puts his or her life on the line in the fight against illegal drugs. Officers like the Carson City deputies who discovered a boy being held in a makeshift home prison by his meth-addicted parents.

The same day that story broke, State Senator Sheila Leslie had to pull a bill that is designed to seriously interrupt the availability of essential ingredients for methamphetamine production, because it didn't have the support it needs to pass the Senate.

It's hardly a surprise.

Legislators need to think about 2013, tooAs our current hack-and-slash legislative session wearily grinds toward it's cessation, I have a question. What happens when the 2013 Legislature convenes a...

A large number of the bills introduced in the 2011 Legislature are expected to die by the close of business today as one of the biggest deadlines of the session hits.April 15 is the deadline for...

CARSON CITY — Senate Operations Committee Chairman David Parks has put the brakes on a collective bargaining bill that the sponsor said could save $2.3 billion for the state.
Sen. Michael Roberson, R-Las Vegas, who sponsored Senate Bill 343, said it would save local governments as much as $2.3 billion by amending the state’s collective bargaining law and ratcheting wages down to national averages.

CARSON CITY –Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, nudged his bill out of committee today, meaning the state could secure anywhere from $20 to $50 million from the casino industry.
Under Assembly Bill 219, if you lose or do not redeem a paper voucher printed from a slot machine, the state would sweep that money into its coffers as unclaimed property. Right now, casinos pay taxes on that money and count the remainder as revenue.

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Legislature finally took up the issue of reforms to the state’s public employee retirement system today, but the proposed changes from Democratic Assembly Speaker John Oceguera are modest.

CARSON CITY – The days are lengthening, but lawmakers are still finding good reason to be inside the Legislature from dawn till dusk.
This Friday is a deadline for bills to pass out of committee, leaving many legislators scurrying from committee room to committee room to keep their bills alive.

“The Recession, Revenues, and Nevada’s Recovery” a town-hall style forum hosted by Nevada Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Washoe County, will be in Nevada Legislature Senate Room 1214. Confirmed panelists include Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, Chairman, Ways & Means Committee and Dr. Ty Cobb, former special Assistant to Ronald Reagan.

By Teresa Moiola / Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs
The Nevada Arts Council presents "Thick Dreams," a series of mixed media artwork by Nick Larsen, in its Carson City office now through June 3 as part of the Office eXhibition Series. An artist talk and reception will be held Thursday, April 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

By Don Quilici
Mark your calendars for April 24-26 for the highly-popular John Riordan Invitational Fishing Derby. John is the Assistant General Manager for the Carson Station Hotel and Casino in Carson City, and this will be the 14th version of his annual, fun-filled, fishing event at Topaz Lake.
His derby is traditionally co-headquartered at the Topaz Lake Marina and the Topaz Lake Lodge at Topaz Lake, which lies along the Nevada-California state line about 40 miles south of Carson City.

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By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – In the end, only acrimony prevailed.
Legislators did not immediately vote on a bill from Sen. Michael Roberson, R-Las Vegas, but a hearing on Senate Bill 343 provoked heated testimony over how local governments and public sector unions bargain their contracts.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A proposed amendment to the Nevada constitution to allow a future Legislature to create a school voucher program so parents could get state funding to send their children to private schools, including religious schools, was heard by a Senate panel today.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval has created a task force charged with reviewing executive branch advisory bodies.
The governor has asked three former state senators to identify, evaluate and recommend whether groups created by former governors or state agencies should continue.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval said today the Legislature should take up the policy initiatives he has proposed in his budget and State of the State address based on their own merits, and not be used in trade for negotiations on fee or tax increases.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval said today the Legislature should take up the policy initiatives he has proposed in his budget and State of the State address based on their own merits, and not be used in trade for negotiations on fee or tax increases.

By Andrew Doughman/ Nevada News Bureau
 CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval has said before that he can reform Nevada’s education system while still reducing the budget allotted to the state’s K-12 system.

We need to play catch-up on bills at the Legislature that impact our seniors and offer you the opportunity to reply. Last week Assembly Bill 305 was heard, a bill which levels penalties for all age...

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval has said before that he can reform Nevada’s education system while still reducing the budget allotted to the state’s K-12 system.
But the cost of several of his proposals drew opposition at a legislative hearing today.

CARSON CITY – Nevadans would no longer see education board representatives on their ballots if a proposal before the Legislature passes.
Assembly Bill 548, recommended by an education task force, would give the governor the power to appoint the superintendent and state board of education.

Nevada lawmakers kick into high gear as they approach a key deadline and take up weighty issues such as collective bargaining, education reform and taxes as the 10th week of the 2011 session begins...

YBP Event @ State Government Day

Carson City LEADERSHIP & Young Business Professionals in conjunction with Reno’s LEADERSHIP and Young Professional Network invite you to State Government Day.

Hear from our State’s leaders, Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki, Speaker John Oceguera and Secretary of State Ross Miller with tours of the State Capitol, Supreme Court, State Legislature and the State Library & Archives

Cost: $12 includes lunch

Only a few spaces available so RSVP Now!
882-1565 or ybp@carsoncitychamber.com

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Campus closures, consolidations and mergers are back on the table after the Board of Regents today undid a vote from last month to not consider campus closures, which itself followed a February vote to consider campus closures.
Many of the smaller colleges are in districts represented by Republicans.

CARSON CITY – Campus closures, consolidations and mergers are back on the table after the Board of Regents today undid a vote from last month to not consider campus closures, which itself followed a February vote to consider campus closures.
Many of the smaller colleges are in districts represented by Republicans.

CARSON CITY – A proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to cut funding to or impose an unfunded mandate on local governments was heartily endorsed today by local officials including the mayors of Reno and Las Vegas.

CARSON CITY – A proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to cut funding to or impose an unfunded mandate on local governments was heartily endorsed today by local officials including the mayors of Reno and Las Vegas.

CARSON CITY – A major campaign finance reform bill that would require most candidates to file their contribution and expense reports electronically narrowly passed out of an Assembly panel today on an 8-7 vote.
The bill would also move filing deadlines up to give voters more time to review the political donation and expense information before casting their ballots.

CARSON CITY – A major campaign finance reform bill that would require most candidates to file their contribution and expense reports electronically narrowly passed out of an Assembly panel today on an 8-7 vote.
The bill would also move filing deadlines up to give voters more time to review the political donation and expense information before casting their ballots.

CARSON CITY – Add it up and some of them have to die.
There is not enough time for the Legislature to hear every bill, but that has not stopped Republicans from accusing Democrats of ignoring Republican bills.
The partisan sniping comes as legislators are scrambling to save their bills from extinction of bills as a legislative deadline looms.