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2-Minute Preview: Airbnb reporting, net metering and a final bill deadline

Riley Snyder
Riley Snyder
Megan Messerly
Megan Messerly
EnergyLegislature
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It’s the beginning of week eight, and while lawmakers are expecting another late night Monday with another bill introduction deadline for legislation introduced by committees, they’ll also have their hands full with another packed day of hearings on issues from reinstating favorable net metering rates for rooftop solar customers to stricter regulation of companies such as Airbnb.

Read more to find out what to keep your eye on today:

Stricter reporting on short-term rentals

Several Nevada Democrats are supporting a bill requiring companies that provide online access and facilitation of short-term rentals such as Airbnb to give more information to public officials.

Under AB321, which is primarily sponsored by Assemblywoman Heidi Swank, county commissions would be required to adopt an ordinance requiring online hosting platforms to submit quarterly reports including the year-to-date number of bookings, the value of the bookings, revenue from rentals, average length of stay, annual revenue collected per owner and average number of bookings per county.

Under the proposal, counties would be able to issue subpoenas to hosting companies if needed to determine whether or not specific units available for short-term rent are violating state law or county ordinance.

Watch the hearing on AB321 at 9 a.m. in the Assembly Government Affairs committee.

Don’t call it a (net metering) comeback

After many ups and downs and contentious fights over the future of residential rooftop solar, Nevada lawmakers are poised to rekindle the debate over the state’s net metering program.

In AB270, sponsored by freshman Democratic Assemblyman Justin Watkins, would largely repeal language passed in 2015 and reinstate cost-effective net metering for essentially an unlimited number of energy customers. Watkins described the bill as effectively a “Band-Aid” to restart the skittish rooftop solar industry while legislators and industry stakeholder attempt to figure out a long-term solution to the value and need for rooftop solar production.

Watch the hearing at approximately 4 p.m. in the Assembly Commerce and Labor subcommittee on Energy.

An omnibus election bill

Up for a hearing today is an omnibus election bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Pat Spearman, which will make a number of different changes to election law in the state.

One portion of the bill will allow county clerks to establish one or more universal polling sites in the county where anyone can cast their ballot on election day during a primary or general election. Another provision would require the Secretary of State to create and maintain a mobile app that includes all information currently on the office’s website and allow people to submit information and forms relating to elections through the app. It also includes language from the recently vetoed IP1, which would automatically register to vote those applying for or renewing a driver’s license at the Department of Motor vehicles unless the applicant affirmatively opts out.

Other provisions allow anyone between 16 and 18 years old to pre-register to vote, require counties to establish a system to provide sample ballots electronically and allows certain voters eligible for military-overseas ballots to request balloting materials to be resent and to cast those ballots by fax, email or other approved electronic transmission.

Watching the hearing at 3:30 p.m. in the Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee.

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