On November 13, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo called the Nevada Legislature into a long-anticipated special session. He said its purpose was to address “unfinished” business stemming from the chaotic final days of the regular Legislature in June.
That business includes a proposed massive expansion of film tax credits and a host of other issues, such as criminal justice and health care bills pushed by the governor himself.
But these, and other bills, are currently still in flux, six days into the session.
"[Lombardo's] criminal justice measure did pass out [of the Senate] last night," said Tabitha Mueller, capital bureau chief for The Nevada Independent. This bill, AB4, would reestablish a controversial Resort Corridor Court, preventing trespassers and criminal offenders from entering a special jurisdiction surrounding the Las Vegas Strip.
However, Mueller notes that this time, AB4 contains Senate amendments limiting immigration enforcement on school campuses and forcing detention facilities to keep records of detainees — both of which might prevent it from being signed into law by the Governor. "We'll have to see where that goes," she added.
Also on the line is AB5, the film tax credit expansion, which has passed the Assembly and is now in the Senate.
"This proposal is for $120 million annually, I believe, beginning in 2029," Mueller said. "The current film tax credit program is $10 million annually, so that's a massive jump."
An issue that has caused a stir among lawmakers is remote voting, which was allowed for a few Assembly members on Sunday, even though they had already left Carson City for vacation. Mueller said this is technically allowed, based on the discretion of Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager.
"Now, does that mean that it might get challenged legally? Probably," Mueller said. "We're going to kind of have to wait and see what comes out of this session."
Further along in the process is a general assistance bill, SB3, which was prompted by the recent government shutdown.
"It would allow the state to give residents cash payments if public, federal, or state assistance gets disrupted again," said KUNR politics reporter, Lucia Starbuck. "Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro told me it's necessary because Nevada had no way to directly support residents. Some other states have cash assistance programs. The legislature did put money into food banks, but the issue there is not all residents can make it to a food bank."
It's currently awaiting Governor Lombardo's signature.
And a housing bill cracking down on corporate home buyers, SB10, has also been added to the agenda in the Senate — the first time in state history a new bill, on a topic not sanctioned by the Governor, has ever been introduced at a special session.
"What we saw yesterday is something that I have never seen before," Mueller said.
Guests: Tabitha Mueller, capital bureau chief, Nevada Independent; Lucia Starbuck, politics reporter, KUNR
