(The Center Square) – Nevada’s 36th special session opened late Thursday morning and named over 20 issues for the Legislature to discuss, including the high-profile film industry incentives bill, a Las Vegas Strip-specific court and Gov. Joe Lombardo’s crime bill.
Seven previously proposed bills, five legislative topics and 14 expenditures were included in the session proclamation written by Lombardo. Unlike the typical Nevada legislative session, a special session can only discuss issues outlined by the governor, who also has the unique power to convene a special session.
“Nevadans deserve action now – not years from now – on legislation that implements critical public safety measures, expands healthcare access, and supports good-paying jobs,” the Republican governor said in a news release announcing the special session.
The Nevada State Assembly and Senate, both of which have Democratic majorities, met Thursday morning for the first day of the special session, with the Assembly adjourning just after noon until the next day.
Some of the topics set to be considered were health care, increased security for public servants, labor standards, a resident relocation program and cybersecurity.
“Over the past several months Nevada has weathered both a major cyberattack and the impacts of a federal government shutdown,” read Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager’s letter to convene the assembly. “Though the state is poised to emerge stronger after overcoming these hurdles, it is clear that new laws are needed to help Nevada respond more effectively to similar crises in the future.”
Earlier this month Nevada Senate Democrats, such as Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, called for a new fund to make up for missed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments during the federal government shutdown. But nothing on Lombardo’s proclamation mentioned the SNAP program, and the topic did not come up during either of Thursday’s legislative sessions.
The federal government shutdown ended Wednesday night after a record-breaking 43 days. With the government reopened, full SNAP benefits are expected to resume.
The special session had previously been promised by Lombardo in early October, with speculation at the time that Assembly Bill 238, a $1.4 billion film incentives bill, and Senate Bill 457, Lombardo’s criminal justice bill, would be considered in the session. SB457 addresses topics varying from assault to battery, pornography involving minors, domestic violence and driving under the influence.
The film incentives bill, sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui and Speaker Pro Tempore Daniele Monroe-Moreno, both Democrats representing Clark County, narrowly passed the Assembly but died without a vote in the Senate this summer. AB 238 would support Burbank-based Warner Bros. and Culver City, Calif.-based Sony Pictures in a joint venture at Summerlin Studios, a 31-acre Las Vegas facility that would be built if the bill passes.
Thursday’s Assembly session saw the first vote on the film incentives bill, which aimed to block its referral to the Jobs and Economy Committee. The blocking measure received a 21-21 split vote and kept the bill alive.
Based on the special session proclamation, Nevada legislators will be expected to vote on legislation related to cybersecurity, Lombardo’s crime bill and the reopening of a court of law on the Las Vegas Strip.
None of these major bills received votes in Thursday’s Assembly gathering or the first half of the day’s activities in the Senate.
