(The Center Square) – Nevada lawmakers are discussing a special session in order to try to pass bills that slipped through the 83rd legislative session.
Legislators want to work to improve the economy in Nevada, but they are not planning to take on budgetary issues that might be brought on by the federal government’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act has presented to the state.
“We need to diversify our economy here in Nevada, particularly in southern Nevada,” Sen. Roberta Lange, D-Clark, told The Center Square about her film tax incentives bill, SB 220, during the 83rd legislative session. “We had Covid and all the resorts shut down, it was eerie.”
Fears of an economic overreliance on the $100 billion tourism industry in Nevada helped push the state assembly to pass a competing tax incentive bill, with hopes to stimulate the Las Vegas film industry. But Assembly Majority Leader and Clark County Democrat Sandra Jauregui’s AB 238 never received a state senate vote and died when the 83rd session ended.
State political leaders are now saying Jauregui’s bill could see a second life if a special session were called, as per KTNV.
“The special session conversation is happening as we speak,” Gov. Joe Lombardo told KTNV. “So there’s some significant pieces of business that didn’t make it through the normal process, I think we should address.”
The film incentives bill is only one of several that state lawmakers are reportedly open to reconsidering. Lombardo’s crime bill, SB 457, was also considered possible for a vote in the special session.
For it to take place, Lombardo would confer with legislative leaders on the session but the governor would decide the agenda.
It would be the 36th special session in Nevada history, with more than half being called since 2001. They most often run for just a day, but can take several weeks.
Without a special session, Nevada lawmakers would be unable to pass new legislation until the 84th regular session begins Feb. 1, 2027.
Shortly after Nevada’s 83rd session ended the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or OBBBA, was passed, creating a number of budgetary shortfalls for the Silver State.
The bill initially cut education funding in Nevada by $60 million but that provision was reversed. The state is ranked 37 by U.S. News for education nationally.
But federal cuts to Medicaid could impact hospitals by $232 million. If the 36th special session is called, state fixes for these federal cuts are unlikely to be on the docket.
“So a lot of things that we were in a quandary or wondering about are being deferred two years out, where we will have to address as part of the regular legislative session [in 2027], but as part of a special session it’s not necessary,” Lombardo told KTNV.
