CIVIL RIGHTS

Marriage Equality

SJR13, sponsored by Sen. Tick Segerblom, repeals existing definition in Nevada Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman and requires recognition of all marriages in this state regardless of gender. The Senate floor session will be remembered for several senators’ raw and emotional testimony, none more than Sen. Atkinson’s for publicly revealing that he is gay.  The bill must come back to the Legislature in 2015 for its required second consideration (and passage) before being put to the people for a final vote. Returns to Legislature in 2015

 

Infamous Crimes Against Nature

SB388, sponsored by Senator David Parks, repeals the crime of solicitation of a minor to engage in acts constituting the infamous crime against nature among consenting teens of the same gender. Signed by Gov. Sandoval.

 

Hate Crime

SB139, sponsored by Senator Pat Spearman, provides an additional penalty for certain crimes motivated by the victim's gender identity or expression. Approved by Gov. Sandoval.

EDUCATION

School Maintenance

AB46, sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Taxation, allows Washoe County commissioners to raise taxes for school maintenance.  Approved by Gov. Sandoval. Now goes to Washoe County Commission for approval.

 

Charter School Accountability

AB205, sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Education, makes numerous provisions governing charter schools fostering greater accountability. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

Comprehensive Sex Education

AB230, which would have required Nevada public schools to teach a comprehensive sex education curriculum, passed in the Assembly but died in the Senate. The Assembly committee hearing will be remembered for Assemblywoman Lucy Flores’ emotional and brave  testimony revealing that she had an abortion as a teenager. No vote taken, died in the Senate.

 

Classroom Size

AB2 of Special Session, sponsored by Assembly Committee on Education, requires the board of trustees of each school district to report quarterly to the Department of Education the average daily attendance of pupils and the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher for certain grades in elementary school that are required to maintain prescribed pupil-teacher ratios and revises the ratios of pupils per licensed teacher for kindergarten and grades 1, 2 and 3. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

All-Day Kindergarten

SB182, sponsored by Senator Debbie Smith, implements full-day kindergarten. Died in Committee.

 

Funding Methods for Nevada Community Colleges

SB391, sponsored by Senator Barbara Cegavske, directs the Legislative Commission to appoint a committee to conduct an interim study concerning the governance structure of and funding methods for community colleges in this State. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

Cyber Bullying

SB414, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, makes posting videos of bullying online to the internet at crime.  Approved by Gov. Sandoval

 

Education Task Force

SB500, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Education, creates the Task Force on K-12 Public Education Funding to recommend a plan for funding public schools. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

ELL Funding

SB504, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Education, provides $19.7 million a year to Clark, $3.74 million to Washoe, $1.49 mill to rurals in funding for ELL.  Bill to be signed Wednesday, June 12. 

 

Education Funding

SB522, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Finance, provides for K-12 funding passed unanimously in the Senate. The budget raises the state’s average support per pupil from the present $5,374 to $5,590 next school year and to $5,676 in fiscal 2015. Passed Assembly 38-4. Approved by Gov. Sandoval

ENERGY

Energy

SB123, sponsored by Sen. Kelvin Atkinson and Assemblyman David Bobzien, requires electric utilities in this State to file with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada an emissions reduction and capacity replacement plan for coal-fired generated energy. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.  

IMMIGRATION

Driving Privilege Cards

SB303, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, establishes procedures for people who are not U.S. citizens to get a driving privilege card. Signed by Governor Sandoval.

 

Immigrant Protections

AB74, sponsored by Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, tightens provisions  and establishes business practices regulating document preparation services. This bill specifically aims to protect immigrants who contract with document preparation services for assistance with preparing a will, trust, any immigration or citizenship proceeding, or any other proceeding, filing or action affecting the legal rights, duties, obligations or liabilities of a person and imposes civil and criminal penalties against such services under specified circumstances. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Sex Trafficking

AB67, advocated by Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto,  amends various provisions concerning the investigation and prosecution of sex trafficking, involuntary servitude and trafficking in persons. Approved by Gov. Sandoval.

 

Domestic Violence

AB284, sponsored by Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, allows victims of domestic violence to terminate rental property lease agreements early without penalty when safety is in jeopardy.  Signed by Gov. Sandoval.

 

Performing Medical Procedures without Licensure

SB199, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, increases the charge and the penalty for people performing medical procedures without the proper licensing. Approved by Gov. Sandoval

 

Gun Background Checks

SB221, sponsored by Senator Justin Jones, would mandate background checks for most gun sales. Passed in the Senate and Assembly committee.  Currently in the hands of Gov. Sandoval who has stated he will veto it.

TAXATION

Taxation on Motor Fuel

AB413, sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Taxation, authorizes Clark County commission to impose an additional 3 cent tax of gas for the next three years. Bill to be signed by Governor this week.

 

More Cops

AB496 and then SB1 of the Special Session, sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Taxation, allows Clark County Commission to raise the sales tax rate, now 8.1 percent, to 8.25 percent for the specific purpose of hiring and training police officers. Bill to be signed by Governor Sandoval this week. 

 

Live Entertainment Tax

AB508, sponsored by Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, imposes an 8 percent tax on just about anything that involves an admission charge. Died in the Assembly.

 

Business Tax Abatement

AB1 of Special Session, sponsored by Assembly Committee of the Whole, makes various changes to existing law authorizing the Office of Economic Development to grant a partial abatement of property taxes, business taxes and sales and use taxes to a business that locates or expands in this State. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

Tax Credits for Film Industry

SB165, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Ford, authorizes the Office of Economic Development to approve and issue a certificate of transferable tax credits to a producer that produces a qualified film or other production in this State. Signed by Gov. Sandoval.  

 

Mining Taxation

SB400, sponsored by Sen. Tick Segerblom, revises provisions governing the taxation of mines, mining claims and the extraction of minerals.  Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

Payroll Taxes

SB475, sponsored by Senate Committee on Finance, revises the provisions governing the rate and calculation of the payroll tax imposed on certain businesses other than financial institutions and extends the sunset expiration date on several business fees for two years. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

Repeal of Mining’s Constitutional Tax Protections

SJR 15*, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Revenue and Economic Development, and championed by Senator Debbie Smith,  and former Senator Sheila Leslie, repeals Mining’s Constitutional provisions establishing a separate tax rate and providing for assessing and disbursing the tax on the net proceeds of mines. This was the Legislature’s second passage of this resolution. The vote will now go before the people for final vote in 2014.

VOTING/ELECTIONS

Expanded Voter Registration Periods

AB440, sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections and championed by Secretary of State Ross Miller, would expand voter registration deadlines until the Friday before each election. Vetoed by Governor Sandoval.

 

City-wide Voting Locations on Election Day

AB441,  would authorize a county or city clerk to establish general polling places where any registered voter of the county or city may vote on election day, much like we do in early voting. Passed by both houses, vetoed by Governor Sandoval.

 

Ward Only Voting in Northern Nevada

SB457, sponsored by Senator Pat Spearman and the Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee, requires the candidates for Supervisor in Carson City and for Council Member in the City of Henderson, the City of Reno and the City of Sparks be voted upon only by the registered voters of the ward that a candidate seeks to represent. Passed overwhelmingly in both houses, vetoed by Governor Sandoval.

 

Annual Legislative Sessions

SJR8, sponsored by Sen. Tick Segerblom, would provide for annual sessions of the Nevada Legislature. However, sponsor proposed amendment that would strip the proposal to allow sessions of the Legislature in Southern Nevada or elsewhere in the state outside of Carson City. The resolution successfully passed both houses and will return for the required second time in 2015. Returns to Legislature in 2015

OTHER

Marijuana Dispensaries

SB374, sponsored by Sen. Tick Segerblom,  creates a dispensary system for medical marijuana in Nevada. Approved in both houses Currently in hands of Governor Sandoval who has not decided whether to approve it or not. 

 

Homeowner's Bill of Rights

SB321, sponsored by Sen. Justin Jones, requires lenders to inform borrowers of possible alternatives before filing a notice of foreclosure and prevent lenders from simultaneously initiative foreclosure proceedings while a loan modification is being considered, a practice known as "dual-tracking." Approved by Gov. Sandoval

 

Foreclosure Practices

AB273, sponsored by Assemblyman Andy Eisen, revises provisions governing enrollment in the Foreclosure Mediation Program; revises provisions governing the payment of certain obligations during participation in the Foreclosure Mediation Program; and revises provisions governing the foreclosure of liens by an association of a common-interest communities. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

Restoration of Pay for Public and Higher Education Workers

AB511, sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, restores 2.5% pay cut workers have endured but maintains mandatory 6-days of furlough per year. Signed by Gov. Sandoval. 

 

Veterans’ Education

AB260, sponsored by Asm. Elliot Anderson, provides that veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who were honorably discharged need not pay tuition fees at Nevada’s institutions of higher education. Bill currently in the hands of the governor.

 

Online Gaming

AB114 was passed by both houses and signed by Sandoval. It allows online poker. Ultimate Poker already has opened a website offering the game. Approved by Gov. Sandoval.  

 

Construction Defect Reform

AB367, sponsored by Assemblyman Daly,  which prohibits a controlling party from seeking indemnification from a subcontractor, supplier, design professional or other person providing a service to a development project except under certain circumstances. Died in the Senate.