NV Legislative Update 5/10/21
Good morning,
We now have less than a month left in the 81st Legislative Session and as predicted, it has been the most partisan session in recent history. Democrats have touted that they work across the aisle but I have yet to see any bi-partisanship unless it’s about fried chicken or doughnuts.
This week two events took place on the capitol grounds, the National Day of Prayer and the Law Enforcement Memorial Tribute. Both of these events were wonderful and were widely attended by constituents from all over the Silver State. However, the Law Enforcement Memorial Tribute did have one memorable no-show. Governor Sisolak was scheduled to be the keynote speaker but decided not to attend and pay respect to the law enforcement of this state who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while in the line of duty.
In other news, last Monday, several Republican Senators began having their case heard in the Nevada Supreme Court regarding unconstitutional tax increases that took place during the 2019 Legislative Session. To refresh your memory SB 542 and SB 551 violated Nevada Constitution when Democrats rushed them through the legislative process and passed them both with simple majorities. A two-thirds majority is always required for any form of tax increases. Democrats in the legislature started a scary precedent.
Governor Sisolak’s long awaited Innovation Zone bill was introduced to the Legislature this week. Republicans received a small victory in the way of this becoming a study regarding Innovation Zones. Although still bad, a study gives us more time to combat this process when the Democrats ultimately try to pass this into law. If you would like to read more about study you can do that here.
As we are coming to the end of the 81st Legislative Session bills are going to be moving very quickly. I wanted to inform you all of some upcoming deadlines for bills:
●     May 14th – 2nd Committee Passage Deadline
●     May 21st – 2nd House Passage Deadline
●     May 26th – All Budget & Exempt Bills Deadline
Finally, some good news in the Legislature. AB 19, a bad education bill that looked to forever change homeschool curriculum without ever receiving input from homeschoolers has been amended to take out the entire section mandating homeschool curriculum. We could not have achieved this without the help of you all, and thank you as well to Power2Parent for spearheading this issue!
As always, to get legislative alerts and stay up to date on hearings like these, sign up for our legislative alerts here.
Please forward this email to your fellow Nevada Republicans. It is crucial we keep people updated on what is going on in Carson City this legislative session if we are going to ensure Republican voices are heard. Below are some alerts for the next few days in the legislature.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Email me at alex.watson@nevadagop.org, or call me at (714) 887-9698.
Thanks for all you do,
Alex Watson
Legislative Affairs Director, Nevada Republican Party
Date: Monday, May 10, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM
Committee: Assembly Commerce & Labor
SB 190 – requiring the Chief Medical Officer to issue a standing order authorizing a pharmacist to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives to any patient; authorizing a pharmacist to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives to any patient; requiring the State Plan for Medicaid and certain health insurance plans to provide certain benefits relating to self-administered hormonal contraceptives
Explanation of SB 190
Authorizes pharmacists to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives to any patient. This bill allows for men/women of any age (including minors) to receive hormonal contraceptives without parental notification. This bill does not require a doctor’s note to receive hormonal contraceptives, these contraceptives often contain ingredients that can have harmful side effects. Hormonal contraceptives are not a one size fits all, they NEED a doctor’s note in order to pick the correct contraceptive.
Nowhere in this bill does it discuss parental notification for minors trying to receive contraceptives. If a minor needs an Advil at school I get a call asking my permission. Yet, to receive these hormonal contraceptives I do not. This is not right. Parental consent should be mandatory. In addition, this bill allows for a potentially target-rich environment for sexual predators to hide the harmful abuse they are doing to our children.
Email to submit written testimony – AsmCL@asm.state.nv.us
Date: Tuesday, May 11th, 2021
Time: 1:00PM
Committee: Senate Judiciary
AB 286 -Prohibiting a person from engaging in certain acts relating to unfinished frames or receivers under certain circumstances; prohibiting a person from engaging in certain acts relating to firearms which are not imprinted with a serial number under certain circumstances; revising provisions relating to the confiscation and disposal of dangerous weapons
Explanation of AB 286
Although we have defeated the restriction for CCW holders, this bill still directly attacks our 2nd amendment rights by creating an opportunity for government tracking of firearms (phase one of future gun confiscation), creates a policy of three strikes and you lose your right to bear arms, and prohibits citizens from manufacturing a gun without a serial number for their personal use.
Email to submit written testimony – SenJUD@sen.state.nv.us
Date: Tuesday, May 11th, 2021
Time: 3:30PM
Committee: Senate Legislative Operations & Elections
SCR 11 – Creates a joint special committee to conduct a study concerning innovation zones
Explanation of SCR 11
Creates a Joint Special Committee to conduct a study of innovation zones, which must be composed of at least three members of the Assembly, two of whom must be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one of whom must be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly, and at least three members of the Senate, two of whom must be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate and one of whom must be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
This Joint Special committee study would conduct research of the effect of innovation zones and propose legislation regarding innovation zones for the 82nd Legislative Session. The Governor’s proposed draft legislation he mentioned during the State of the State Address would have The general idea, according to draft legislation, would allow a developer with more than 50,000 acres of contiguous land, a promise to invest more than $1 billion in the Zone and and agreement to allow an industry-specific tax to create an “Innovation Zone” — a self-governing country-within-a-county, taking over responsibilities such as tax collection, K-12 education and other services normally provided by county governments. We must be cognizant that this study could submit the same Legislation under the guise of a Joint Special Committee.
Email to submit written testimony – SenLOE@sen.state.nv.us
You can follow the chambers floor sessions via the YouTube links below:
To view a daily schedule of events and watch meetings live, visit https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/