Updated Thursday February 18, 2021 at 6:34 AM – The 120-day, biennial session of the Nevada Legislature got underway on February 1, and Monday February 15 marks Day 15 and a growing slate of legislative activities. Please be advised that schedule changes can occur at any time. Here are a few bills and events we’re tracking. This report will be updated every weekday morning and as new information becomes available.
Monday February 15, 2021 – Day 15 of 120:
8:30 AM – Joint meeting of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Committee on Finance will consider the budget for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to include the Nevada Film Office.
1:00 PM – Senate Committee on Education will hear an overview of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Medicine and COVID-19 response efforts – Dr. Marc J. Kahn, Dean, UNLV School of Medicine; overview of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) School of Medicine and COVID-19 response efforts – Dr. Thomas L. Schwenk, Dean, UNR School of Medicine and Vice President of Health Sciences for UNR.
1:30 PM – The Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services will hear an overview of Medicaid in the state.
3:30 – The Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure will hear a presentation on the State Climate Strategy from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Bradley Crowell, Director; Greg Lovato, Administrator, Division of Environmental Protection; Kristen Averyt, Ph.D., State Climate Policy Coordinator.
The committee will also hear a presentation from the Governor’s Office of Energy, Director David Bobzien.
Tuesday February 16, 2021 – Day 16 of 120:
8:00 AM – The Assembly Committee on Judiciary will hear AB59, a bill that would raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21.
8:00 AM – Senate Committee on Finance and Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittees on K-12/Higher Education/CIP will consider the state’s Distributive School Account and other education budgets.
9:00 AM – Assembly Committee on Government Affairs will hear three bills related to veterans assistance programs, AB22, AB76, AB77.
1:30 – The Assembly Committee on Education will hear AB19, a bill that revises the academic subjects that constitute social studies.
1:30 PM – Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure will hear a presentation from the Colorado River Commission of Nevada. Speakers include: Eric P. Witkoski, Executive Director; Sara A. Price, Senior Assistant Director; Gail A. Bates, C.P.M., Assistant Director, Hydropower; Warren Turkett, Ph.D., Natural Resource Analyst
3:30 PM – Senate Committee on Natural Resources will hear SB52, a measure that would help preserve dark skies in Nevada.
4:00 PM – Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections will hear AB95, a bill that would add a tribal representative to the Legislative Committee on Public Lands.
The committee will also hear AB110, a bill that would change the formal definition of a “lobbyist” to anyone who communicates directly with a member of the Legislative Branch. They need not appear in the Legislative Building.
4:00 PM – Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will hear SB93, a measure that would suspend a person’s Medicaid benefits while they are in prison.
Wednesday February 17, 2021 – Day 17 of 120:
1:00 PM – Senate Committee on Judiciary will hear three bills regarding police ability to conduct searches and electronic investigations. SB41 regards the use of “pen register” or “trap and trace” devices, technology that records the numbers of incoming and outgoing calls but not the contents of the calls. The committee will also hear SB50, a bill that would prevent a magistrate from issuing a no-knock warrant, except under certain circumstances.
The committee will also hear SB62, a measure that would expand the number of charitable organizations that must register with the Secretary of State’s Office in order to solicit contributions on the phone or in-person.
3:30 PM – The Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure will hear SB18, a bill that would revise the reasons for and amounts of fines the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada can levy against a utility company.
The Committee will also hear SB59, a measure that would limit the scope of judicial review of PUCN contested decisions.
4:00 PM – Assembly Committee on Natural Resources will hear AB31, a bill that would prohibit the use of “diesel exhaust fluid” not certified by the state Department of Agriculture. Diesel exhaust fluid is a liquid that significantly reduces the pollution from a diesel motor.
Thursday February 18, 2021 – Day 18 of 120:
8:00 AM – Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittees on Human Services will consider budgets for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF, Welfare Field Services, Child Assistance and Development, and Energy Assistance program.
1:00 PM – Senate Committee on Judiciary will hear SB107, a bill that would establish a 4-year statute of limitations for commencing an action for wrongful termination of employment.
1:30 PM – Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure will hear presentations from Bureau of Consumer Protection, Office of the Attorney General, the Nevada Taxicab Association, the Western States Petroleum Association.
4:00 PM – The Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections will hear AB1, a bill that would expand the training incoming state lawmakers to include information about subsidiary forms of government. The committee will also work session a bill, AB110, a measure that would revise the Nevada Lobbying and Disclosure Act.
Friday February 19, 2021 – Day 19 of 120:
Assembly Committee on Judiciary will hear AB104, a measure that would revise the legal rights of a person wrongly convicted of a crime.
8:00 AM – Joint Meeting of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Committee on Finance will consider several budgets to include the Secretary of State’s Office Help America Vote Act or HAVA election reform. HAVA was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2002 to make sweeping reforms to the nation’s voting process. HAVA addresses improvements to voting systems and voter access that were identified following the 2000 election.
