A Democratic state senator who supported a bill last year the ended daily hotel room cleaning requirements is facing a union-backed challenger because of her vote.

Plus: The growth of nonpartisan voters and a new poll

The Clark County teachers union made donations totaling $310,000 to four members of the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee (IFC) in days surrounding a Dec. 13 meeting.

Those contributions include a maximum $10,000 donation from the CCEA PAC to Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) a day after the vote.

Implementation of a new state late has led to confusion over which agency is standing up a septic conversion program in Southern Nevada and how much of the work residents will have to pay.

Along with savings from the canceled projects, myriad ARP-funded projects have come in under budget, leaving lawmakers with more than $60 million to obligate before a deadline at the end of 2024. 

Other bills that went into effect include measures that increase criminal penalties for stealing catalytic converters, place stronger restrictions on pet restraints and loosen fee hikes at Nevada prisons.

There’s just seven days until government funding lapses, and with House Republicans yet to pass a spending bill, federal agencies are preparing to close. The last government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — lasted 35 days in 2018 and 2019.

Pending approval by the Las Vegas City Council, Assemblywoman Sabra Smith Newby (D-Las Vegas) is expected to resign from the Legislature to take a job as the city’s deputy manager.

Gov. Joe Lombardo announced late Friday that AAA Scholarship Foundation has "volunteered to utilize reserve funds to ensure that no students who qualify under Nevada law lose access to their scholarship this year."

The path to legalizing, licensing and regulating short-term rental units in unincorporated Clark County has not been easy. Obstacles have ranged from a judge ruling parts of the county’s proposed ordinance unconstitutional, to applicants not having enough time to gather the required paperwork — prompting the county to extend the deadline.

Originally aiming for decriminalization, the final version of SB242 only created a working group to study the use of psychedelics and the impact that decriminalization could have in the state. 

This year, party leaders in particular had the most success in getting their bills passed. Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) recorded a Legislature-topping 85 percent success rate, with 11 of 13 bills signed into law. 

The team’s $1.5 billion ballpark proposal, which includes $380 million in tax subsidies and write-offs, drew so few fans you’d be excused for confusing it with an A’s home game. 

In another sign negotiations over the bill hit a snag, lawmakers in the Assembly adjourned with only two out of 40 members present for a roll call on the floor until Monday — likely extending the special session convened by Gov. Joe Lombardo on Wednesday until at least the middle of next week. 

The special session is the second convened by Gov. Joe Lombardo in two days since the end of the regular session Monday, with only one bill up for consideration. SB1 is a copy of SB509 from the 2023 regular session — a bill that failed to pass during the final hours of the session Monday night. 

With fewer than four days until the Legislature’s 120-day session ends June 5, lawmakers are finalizing bills, amendments and making last-minute deals in an attempt to get their legislation and the state budget across the finish line.

NV Energy is seeking a stronger legislative mandate and a message from the Legislature to state regulators to make it clear that closing that open market position is a priority. Sanchez said that could even include raising the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

In the face of Lombardo’s veto threat, Democratic lawmakers have swiftly advanced the budget implementation bills, even introducing them on Monday, nine days earlier than the anticipated introduction date of May 31.

This week’s Indy Environment looks at one of the most consequential water measures moving in the Legislature: the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s omnibus conservation bill.