Senate

The Nevada Assembly voted on Senate Joint Resolution 15 during their floor session Tuesday. The bill urges Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform.

Many of the Assembly members took time to speak to the importance of passing the bill. Assemblyman James Ohrenschall was one of those who spoke in favor of SJR 15.

“Unless you’re a Native Americans, we are a nation of immigrants,” Ohrenschall said.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Marriage equality in Nevada is becoming more and more likely after the state Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 13 on April 22 with a vote of 12-9. SJR 13 began as a measure to amend the Nevada Constitution to remove 18 words. The words in question defined marriage as between a man and a woman. They were added as an amendment to Nevada’s constitution in 2002 after Nevadans voted 70 percent to 30 percent in favor of the Protection of Marriage Act.

by ALEX POMPLIANO

On today’s Weekly Round-Up, we learn more about Senate Joint Resolution 13, Brianna’s Law and Nevada’s mineral taxes. This episode also features guests Jeri Chadwell, Scot Jenkins and Lindsay Toste.

CARSON CITY - Halfway through the 2013 Nevada Legislative Session, a little levity may be in order. As things heat up inside the legislative chambers, members of the Nevada Assembly and Senate will take it outside on Thursday afternoon and de-stress at the biennial Legislative Softball Game.

For the third time, the event will take place at John L. Harvey Field on the campus of Western Nevada College, in the capital city. The first pitch will be at approximately 5 p.m. Admission is free.

After numerous amendments and attempted changes, Senate Bill 49, which would require candidates to be more transparent in how they report and spend campaign contributions, passed the Senate by a vote of 13-8 and will now move on to the Assembly. To see how Twitter users reacted to discussion of the bill during today’s Senate floor session, click here.

Democrats in the Nevada Senate pushed through a bill repealing Nevada's threat to leave the decades old Tahoe Compact.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Senate took an emotional step toward legalizing gay marriage with a near party-line vote to repeal the state’s heterosexual definition of marriage.

by JERI CHADWELL

by ALEX POMPLIANO

On today’s Weekly Round-Up, we learn more about the looming bill deadlines for the legislature, the recently amended and passed Senate Joint Resolution 13, and expelled Assemblyman Steven Brooks’ replacement. This episode also features Nevada Media Alliance senior editor Jeri Chadwell.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate that he supports an assault weapons ban, limits on high-capacity ammunition clips and polices to improve access to mental health services. He spoke of mass shootings that have happened across the country and close to home in Carson City.

"As the case of the Carson City, Nevada IHOP tragedy reveals, the deficiencies in this nation’s mental health treatment system are another important part of the discussion about how to prevent gun violence," Reid said on the Senate floor. "We have simply not done a good job of providing funding for and access to mental health services. We have also done a poor job of removing the stigma that keeps many Americas from seeking the treatment they need."

The Nevada Senate Committee on Judiciary spoke on three bills from the Assembly Tuesday. AB 89, one of the bills discussed, would form benefit corporations, which are corporations that spend money on community outreach programs and if legislation passed, would allow investors to put money into causes that they care about while also possibly getting a financial gain.

by PAUL GEORGE and LINDSAY TOSTE

Earlier today, Reno City Councilman Oscar Delgado testified before the Senate Committee on Finance. Delgado spoke in favor of Senate Bill 398, a measure that would help fund the implementation of the AfterSchool KidzLitz literacy program in Nevada Boys and Girls Clubs.

“Education does not stop at three o’clock,” Delgado said.