Vote Nevada Supporters,

The next legislative deadline is the second house committee passage on Friday, May 19^th.  Bills that are not exempt and do not pass affirmatively out of committee in the second house are dead.  All bills must then be passed on the floor of the second house by May 26th to stay alive.  The last day of the regular session is June 5^th. (I feel like I should say, “May the odds be ever in your favor.” )

According to the Nevada Constitution, the legislature must approve education funding first, before any other budgets.  This was added to our constitution to ensure education funding couldn’t be held hostage in partisan battles over other issues.  (See: Nevada Constitution Article 11, Sec. 6)

Currently, education funding has not been approved due to one main issue.  The Governor is providing $2.3 billion for public education, but he is also proposing greatly expanding the Opportunity Scholarships program, which allows businesses to offset their state tax obligation by contributing funds to a scholarship account.  The scholarships are then made available for students who wish to attend a private school, but who cannot afford the tuition. The Democrats disagree with funding Opportunity Scholarships by diverting tax revenue away from the general fund.

You can read about the Opportunity Scholarship program here: https://doe.nv.gov/Private_Schools/Nevada_Choice_Scholarship_Program/

And here:  https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Documents/RTTL_NAC388D.070_2021.pdf

And here: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/democrats-press-governors-office-on-bill-to-expand-school-choice-hold-back-students

Both sides have equal power to block the other side from achieving their priorities, so, we will need to find some middle ground to ensure our children benefit from this cycle’s large general fund surplus. 

Both sides are considering their “base” as they navigate possible negotiations, but it is useful to note that all Nevadans are represented in our legislative processes not just the “base” on either side.  So, over the next week or so, as our elected leaders meet to address the state’s education needs in meaningful ways, let’s do our part to focus on finding a middle ground. 

And a gentle reminder: Name-calling and personal attacks fall under the ad hominem fallacy.  Addressing the merits of the argument, not the character of the arguer is the civic engagement standard.

We still haven’t seen a bill that proposes public funding for the A’s baseball stadium, but we do know that the team owners have switched their focus to the Tropicana Hotel site.  Under this proposal, the hotel will be replaced.

Related, last Thursday, Senator Roberta Lange introduced Senate Bill 496, which proposes providing $190 million per year in tax credits for twenty years if Sony Pictures Entertainment moves some production work to Nevada.  You can read more about this story here: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/proposed-massive-expansion-of-film-tax-credits-aims-to-attract-industry-to-vegas

On the Vote Nevada priority legislative front, Assembly Bill 37, which creates the behavioral health workforce center in the Nevada System of Higher Education, is technically scheduled for Tuesday, May 16^th, in Assembly Ways and Means at 6 pm.  Our main advocate is Dr. Sara Hunt, and she is hearing that the bill may be moved to Thursday instead; so, as soon as we see or hear confirmation on the hearing’s day and time, I will send out an email alert. 

Here are updates on other events happening this week:

Tomorrow, May 15^th, at 1:30 pm, the Carson City Democratic Men’s Luncheon speaker is Christina Lopez.  Christina is filling in for former Lt. Governor Kate Marshall and will be speaking about Assembly Bill 250, which caps the price of critically needed prescription drugs at Medicare levels.  If you would like to attend via Zoom at 1:30 pm, please email Rich Dunn at richdunn as one word and then @aol.com

The Board of Regents governs the Nevada System of Higher Education statewide, so, anything that happens at any higher education institution must align with NSHE Code and policies.  As workforce development programs run through higher education, once the Governor signs this legislative session’s workforce bills, the Regents will assume responsibility for their implementation. 

While we are waiting for those bills to be signed into law, if you are interested in watching and/or participating in the Regents’ meetings, here are the web pages you’ll need to use. You can watch a live stream of Regents meetings from the main page on the day of the meeting.

Here is the NSHE main page: https://nshe.nevada.edu/ 

And here is the Upcoming Meetings page: https://nshe.nevada.edu/regents/upcoming-meetings/

Of particular interest, this week is the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 17^th, at 1 pm. The Committee Chair is Regent Laura Perkins.  This committee is where we would start to ensure Nevada’s higher education policies and Code align with our newly passed state Equal Rights Amendment.

If you would like to provide public comments either through a written statement or by testifying in person, information on how to do both is on each meeting’s agenda on the Upcoming Meetings page.

On Saturday, May 20^th, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, at the Arts Café, 719 N. Nellis Blvd, Vote Nevada is hosting a neighborhood chat session with eastside residents. We are going to chat about specific Eastside issues we can address through civic engagement. 

Such as, the Eastside is now a heat island because we removed too many trees through the xeriscaping program.  What is being done and what can we do to address this issue? The eastside also lacks sufficient civic spaces to host community meetings, yet, we have a mothballed K-Mart store slowly becoming an eyesore at Bonanza and Nellis. Is this a solution?   And how will we gather community feedback when companies try to build warehouses on Lamb and Nellis Blvds.? We need a plan for that.

The Summer of Civics meetings and initiatives are already taking shape.  We will start on June 10th by reviewing this legislative session’s outcomes to see what passed, what died, and what failed to receive a hearing.  Bills that passed will need implementation, bills that died may need fixes applied to ensure they pass in 2025, and we need to discuss whether a partisan process that blocks bills from even one committee hearing really reflects the principles of representative government.  

If you would like to join us for this discussion on June 10, 2023, via Zoom, from 9 to 10:30 am, please RSVP here: https://vote-nevada.news/Legislative-Roundup-2023

The big Summer of Civics initiative this year will focus on sports equity, specifically pay equity and media support. As we know, the Las Vegas Aces WNBA Team is the reigning world champions and the UNLV Lady Rebels won back-to-back Mountain West Championships, but did you also know that the Pyramid Lake Girls Basketball team finished 7-0 in the Western League 1-A?  And UNR Track and Field’s team member Emily Costello won a gold medal in the 200-meter dash, smashing the old record by 6 seconds.

Anyone who is interested in this effort can help research the issues of pay equity and media coverage, map out a social media plan to raise awareness of these issues, and then engage in civic processes that address these issues.

The WNBA All Stars Game will be in Vegas on July 15^th, so, that week we will have a perfect window of opportunity to get our message out.  I will send out information on how to join this working group as soon as the Spring semester wraps up this week.  We will do most of our work virtually, so, everyone can join.

Lastly, and related to this, I will be in Reno on May 30^th and Carson City on May 31^st and would love to chat with my Northern neighbors about your civics/community improvement ideas we can tackle this summer. 

If you’d like to stop by on May 30^th in Reno, I will be at Craft Wine & Beer, 22 Martin St, Reno, NV 89509, from 6 to 7 pm.  And on May 31^st, I will be at Old World Coffee Lab, 301 N. Curry Street, Carson City, 89703, from 3 to 4 pm.

For either event, RSVP by texting 702-803-1569.

Thanks, as always, for being Nevadans with me,

Sondra

Vote Nevada: Solving Problems with Civics

Vote Nevada is now qualified to receive donations through Facebook fundraisers.

Vote Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic engagement organization.  Anyone can become a supporter by emailing info@vote-nevada.org, we have no membership dues.  We do, however, accept donations Here

Vote Nevada Supporters,

We have now entered the point in the legislative session where I can’t remember which week it is, so, let’s start counting down until Sine Die (the day of adjournment, the end), which is June 5^th.  The remaining deadlines are:

May 8^th: Resolve budget differences between the two houses.

May 19^th: Second house committee passage.

May 26^th: Second house floor passage.

May 31^st: Budget bills & exempt bills committee passage.

Now that we know there is more money in the budget, we will see some unfunded bills moving out of the money committees, Assembly Ways and Means, or Senate Finance.  If you have bills sitting in one of these committees, watch for bill tracking updates.

As bills move to the Governor’s office for a signature, we can track that progress and outcomes on this Reports page: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Reports

You can review the Governor’s options once a bill arrives on his desk here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Content/items/nevadas-legislative-process

After the session ends, Vote Nevada is kicking off our Summer of Civics program on June 10th, from 9 to 10:30 am, via Zoom, with a review of which bills passed, which bills died, and which bills did not receive a hearing.  You can RSVP for that meeting here: https://vote-nevada.news/Legislative-Roundup-2023

Stay tuned for a lot more Summer of Civics topics!

Tomorrow, May 8th, Carson City Democratic Men’s Committee luncheon guest is Annette Magnus from Battle Born Progress. You can read more here: https://carsonnow.org/reader-content/05/05/2023/long-time-progressive-advocate-speak-democratic-luncheon

The luncheon starts at 1:00 pm in-person and the Zoom presentation starts at 1:30 pm.  You can receive the Zoom link by emailing Rich Dunn at richdunn as one word and then @aol.com.

I received some great suggestions for our first Eastside Neighborhood Chat meeting on June 20, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, at the Art Café on 719 N. Nellis Blvd.  We will be chatting about leadership opportunities & creating an Eastside Influencers group that can spread the word about Eastside issues and the civic processes for addressing those issues. And to top it all off, Vote Nevada will buy you a smoothie or other beverage to enjoy.

On the legislative front, we have an extra $251 million to spend (https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/after-economic-forum-how-do-lawmakers-plan-to-spend-251-million-in-new-money) so, let’s come together to focus on long-standing problems, especially the ones the pandemic amplified.  These problems range from our deficient mental health system to state-worker pay, and from our outdated social service systems to our aging, and in some cases nonexistent, digital infrastructure.

Lastly, regarding the possible public financing of the A’s baseball stadium, that can only happen if a bill passes through the legislature and is signed by the Governor.  The question is whether we will see that funding bill during the regular legislative session or if it will be debated in a special session.  Either the governor or 2/3^rd of all legislators may call the legislature into special session, but the topics discussed must be clearly defined, narrow, and limited. You can read more about special sessions here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Documents/NevadaSpecialSessions.pdf

Sondra

Vote Nevada: Solving Problems with Civics

Vote Nevada is now qualified to receive donations through Facebook fundraisers.

Vote Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic engagement organization.  Anyone can become a supporter by emailing info@vote-nevada.org, we have no membership dues.  We do, however, accept donations Here

In case you aren’t glued to Twitter right now, here are the results of today’s Economic Forum meeting: 

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/economic-forum-state-budget-will-have-251-million-more-than-expected

Vote Nevada Supporters,

If you were following a bill in the Assembly or Senate and the bill passed, it is now in one of two places.  If the bill does not need funding, it is now in the other house and being referred to the parallel committee. 

For example, if you provided public comments on a bill in Assembly Health and Human Services and the bill passed on the Assembly floor, watch for the bill to be scheduled for a hearing in Senate Health and Human Services.  You will need to provide public comments again.  The opposite house’s committee and floor can add amendments to the bill, so, you’ll want to be vigilant. 

If the opposite house amends a bill, the bill is referred to the house of origin for concurrence.  If the house of origin accepts the amendment, the bill heads to the Governor’s desk.  If the house of origin rejects the amendment, both houses’ leadership appoint members to a conference committee. 

If the conference committee resolves the differences in the bill language and both floors accept the outcome, the bill passes.  If the conference committee cannot resolve the differences, the bill dies.

If your bill landed on the floor of the house of origin with an unfunded fiscal note, it was referred to Assembly Ways and Means or Senate Finance to resolve the funding issue.  If the bill receives funding, it will proceed to the opposite house.  If the bill does not receive funding, the bill dies. 

You can view the Legislative Council Bureau’s legislative process chart here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Content/items/nevadas-legislative-process

This is why tomorrow’s Economic Forum meeting at 9:30 am is so important.  If the Forum projects more revenue for the 2023-2025 biennium than it projected in November of 2022, that extra revenue can fund unfunded fiscal notes.  We will start to see bills that need to be funded being heard in the money committees on May 10th. 

You can view the Economic Forum’s meeting information, including all the revenue reports and data, as well as watch the meeting’s live stream from this page: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/Interim2021/Meeting/24305

On SB431, I would like to thank Senators Flores and Ohrenschall for managing the bill’s hearing in a collaborative and respectful manner.  The bill contains many different parts, but for Nevadans who rely on the state to provide services for someone with disabilities, it is vital that we modernize our state agencies. 

Nevadans with disabilities often ping-pong between agencies with little more than frustration to show for their efforts.  We have dedicated state agency workers, it is our systems that are outdated and in need of upgrades. 

Event Date:   May 1, 2023 – 1:00pm

By Rich Dunn

The featured speaker at Monday’s Democratic luncheon will be Sarah Adler, Principal at Silver State Government Relations. She will provide an update on how key bills have fared in the legislative process so far this session, with a special focus on bills related to affordable and supportive housing.

https://carsonnow.org/reader-content/04/28/2023/affordable-housing-topic-democratic-luncheon

To join tomorrow’s luncheon, email Rich Dunn for the Zoom link.  The presentation starts at 1:30 pm and Rich’s email is richdunn as one word and then @aol.com.

Wednesday, May 3^rd, is the Hispanics in Politics Breakfast from 8 to 9 am at Doña Maria’s Tamales. 

“The Honorable Julian Escutia Rodríguez, a career diplomat with almost 20 years of experience who has served as Consul of Mexico in Nevada since 2020, has accepted our invitation to join us.” 

“HIP is commemorating the Battle of Puebla, aka Cinco de Mayo, and has invited Mónica Briz Merigo, a renowned fashion designer who will visit us directly from Puebla, Mexico. Mónica will introduce some of her original 2023 Traditional Puebla Designs.”

Vote Nevada is starting a neighborhood community meeting program this summer to get to know Nevadans across the state.  We are starting with the east side of Las Vegas.  If you or anyone you know would like to join us on May 20^th at the Art Café at 719 N. Nellis Blvd. 89110, from 10:30 to 11:30 am.  RSVP by texting 702-803-1569.

Vote Nevada is hosting Summer of Civics events this summer via Zoom.  We will host meetings on bills that survived and those that died in this legislative session, as well as topics such as the Open Meeting Law, consensus democracy, ranked-choice voting, respecting the disability community through Nothing About Us Without Us, and workforce development for behavioral health.

Our big summer event is two showings of The Young Vote by Producer/Director Diane Robinson.  We are flying in Diane and the full cast of the film for an August 25^th viewing at the College of Southern Nevada and an August 26^th viewing at a place to be determined (we are looking to reserve space at UNR).  Please let us know if you plan to attend and at which viewing through this form: https://forms.gle/8ZMZvfAorawPjbhYA

Thank you for being Nevadans with me,

 Sondra

Vote Nevada: Solving Problems with Civics

Vote Nevada is now qualified to receive donations through Facebook fundraisers.

Vote Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic engagement organization.  Anyone can become a supporter by emailing info@vote-nevada.org, we have no membership dues.  We do, however, accept donations Here

Vote Nevada Supporters,

We have made it through the second legislative deadline for bills to pass affirmatively out of the house of origin. Only ten bills died by this deadline. Now we start the committee process all over again in the second house, so, if you provided public comments on a bill in the first committee hearing you’ll need to watch for the opportunity to provide comments again in the second committee hearing.

The next big legislative event will happen on May 1^st when the Economic Forum meets to review revenue projections for the 2023-2025 biennium. Nevada is a balanced budget state, so our legislature and governor cannot spend more than the Economic Forum projections unless they decide to increase taxes.

The technical committee that prepares the revenue reports for the Economic Forum met on April 21st, you can watch the hearing here: t.ly/_AODO You can view the revenue charts here: t.ly/QOm-

In sum, there will be more revenue, but almost solely based on the higher interest rates our state investments have and will earn. You can hear Treasurer Conine’s explanation for this in the hearing above. States were able to invest American Rescue Plan funds while waiting to spend the money on approved expenditures. All American Rescue Plan funds must be spent, however, by December 2024.

The Economic Forum will meet on May 1^st at 9:30 am to hear the technical committee reports and will apply any revisions to their revenue projections. These revisions can fund bills with pending fiscal notes.

You may watch the Economic Forum hearing from the Scheduled Meetings page: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/

The Guinn Center, a bipartisan think tank, released this report on the Governor’s Recommended Budget, you can read it here: https://guinncenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nevadas-2023-2025-Budget-Print-Version-FINAL-3.27.2023.pdf

Two of the Governor’s bills, AB400 and SB431, were heard yesterday and the two money committees, Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance, are closing budgets for agencies. You can catch up on any of these hearings on the archived recordings webpage: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Video/

You can read my public comments on SB431 here: https://vote-nevada.news/SB431-Public-Comments

You can watch any of Vote Nevada meeting recordings here: https://vote-nevada-blog.org/vote-nevada-community-meeting-recordings/

Vote Nevada is starting a neighborhood community meeting program this summer to get to know Nevadans across the state. We are starting with the east side of Las Vegas. If you or anyone you know would like to join us on May 20^th at the Art Café at 719 N. Nellis Blvd. 89110, from 10:30 to 11:30 am. RSVP by texting 702-803-1569.

This year’s Law Day theme is Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration. You can watch the American Bar Public Education Division presentation on this theme here: https://youtu.be/8AZZfhFcD5E

Vote Nevada is hosting Summer of Civics events again this summer via Zoom. We will host meetings on bills that survived and those that died in this legislative session, as well as topics such as the Open Meeting Law, consensus democracy, ranked-choice voting, respecting the disability community through Nothing About Us Without Us, and workforce development for behavioral health.

Our big summer event is two showings of The Young Vote by Producer/Director Diane Robinson. We are flying in Diane and the full cast of the film for an August 25^th viewing at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and an August 26^th viewing at a place to be determined in Reno (we are looking to reserve space at UNR). Please let us know if you plan to attend and at which viewing through this form: https://forms.gle/8ZMZvfAorawPjbhYA

Thank you for being Nevadans with me,

Sondra

Vote Nevada: Solving Problems with Civics

Vote Nevada is now qualified to receive donations through Facebook fundraisers.

Vote Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic engagement organization. Anyone can become a supporter by emailing info@vote-nevada.org, we have no membership dues. We do, however, accept donations Here

Vote Nevada Supporters,

A few non-legislative notes:

Our meeting with the representatives from No Labels was very informative. You can watch the recording from the top of this page: https://vote-nevada-blog.org/vote-nevada-community-meeting-recordings/

If you would like to join us to prepare for the April 26^th hearing of SB431, we are meeting Monday, April 24^th, from 6 to 7 pm, via Zoom.  You can RSVP here: t.ly/TzOX

If you are in the Reno/Carson City area, please add this event to your calendar.  KUNR reporter Lucia Starbuck is interviewing legislators on April 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at IMBIB in Sparks. You can RSVP here: t.ly/3uMb

Legislative Notes:

We have a major deadline this week on Tuesday, April 25^th. Bills must pass affirmatively out of their houses of origin by Tuesday. Assembly bills must be voted out of the Assembly and Senate bills must be voted out of the Senate.  Bills that make it through this deadline will move to the opposite house and start the committee process again.  

The next deadline is May 19^th when bills must pass affirmatively out of the second committee.  The legislative session ends on June 5^th.

The technical committee that prepares the revenue reports for the Economic Forum met on April 21st, you can watch the hearing here: t.ly/_AODO  You can view the revenue charts here: t.ly/QOm-

In sum, there will be more revenue, but almost solely based on the higher interest rates our state investments have and will earn. You can hear Treasurer Conine’s explanation for this in the hearing above.  States were able to invest American Rescue Plan funds while waiting to spend the funds on approved expenditures.  All American Rescue Plan funds must be spent by December 2024. 

The Economic Forum will meet on May 1^st at 9:30 am to hear the reports created by the technical committee and apply any revisions to their revenue projections. These revisions can fund bills with pending fiscal notes.

You may watch the Economic Forum hearing from the Scheduled Meetings page: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/

Because of the pending deadline, floor sessions this week will be longer, and some committee meetings will be canceled.

A few committee hearings to watch will be:

 Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Major Health and Human Services mental and behavioral budgets will close.

8:00 AM

Senate Committee on Finance and Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittees on Human Services

Agenda

• Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
• Videoconferenced to Room 4412 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

1383, 3147, 3148, 3161, 3162, 3165, 3168, 3170, 3179, 3181, 3200, 3255, 3259, 3263, 3281, 3645, 3646, 3648, 4894, 4895

 Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Major Education budgets will close.

8:00 AM

Senate Committee on Finance and Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittees on K-12/Higher Education/CIP

Agenda

• Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
• Videoconferenced to Room 4406 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

2616, 2618, 2697, 2699, 2705, 2709, 2710, 2712, 2715, 2718, 2719, 2720, 2721

 AB431 creates a cabinet of 5 secretaries in the Governor’s office. The cabinet secretaries will have the power to integrate state agency services.

3:30 PM

Senate Committee on Government Affairs

Agenda

• Room 2149 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
• Videoconferenced to Room 4412 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

SB431

 Thursday, April 27, 2023

Major Division of Welfare and Supportive Services and Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation budgets will close.

8:00 AM

Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittees on Human Services

Agenda

• Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
• Videoconferenced to Room 4412 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

1004, 2580, 2666, 3228, 3230, 3232, 3233, 3238, 3239, 3253, 3254, 3265, 3267, 3268, 3269, 3270, 3272, 3273, 3274, 4770, 4771, 4772, 4773, 4862

 Friday, April 28, 2023

Major Aging and Disability Services Division budgets will close.

8:00 AM

Senate Committee on Finance and Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittees on Human Services

Agenda

• Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
• Videoconferenced to Room 4406 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

1006, 3140, 3151, 3156, 3204, 3206, 3207, 3208, 3209, 3271

 Saturday, April 30, 2023

Major Division of Public and Behavioral Health Division of Child and Family Services budgets will close.

8:00 AM

Joint Meeting of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Committee on Finance

Agenda²

• Room 4100 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
• Videoconferenced to Room 4401 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

1325, 1327, 1330, 2626, 2631 

Monday, May 1, 2023.

9:30 AM

Economic Forum

Agenda

• Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
• Videoconferenced to Room 4401 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

Thank you for being Nevadans with me,

 Sondra

Vote Nevada: Solving Problems with Civics

Vote Nevada is now qualified to receive donations through Facebook fundraisers.

Vote Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic engagement organization.  Anyone can become a supporter by emailing info@vote-nevada.org, we have no membership dues.  We do, however, accept donations Here

Thank you to everyone who contacted our Senate Government Affairs legislators to ask for a hearing on SB431, your voices mattered!  Especially, thank you to Senator Edgar Flores, Chair of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, for scheduling this hearing.  This is direct democracy in action~  

Please join Vote Nevada on Monday, April 24th, from 6 to 7 pm, via Zoom to coordinate public comments for SB431.  RSVP here: t.ly/TzOX

Thank you!~~

Sondra

Vote Nevada Supporters,

I have a huge favor to ask.  Many in Nevada’s disability community see potential fixes to some big problems that make their lives unnecessarily challenging in Senate Bill 431.  But because this is one of Governor Lombardo’s bills, we are worried that partisanship will keep the bill from receiving a hearing.  

Without a hearing, it is not possible for this constituent group to communicate how their needs can be met through SB431 and it is not possible for this group to put their questions about the bill on the record.  

You can review the full bill here by clicking on Text: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bill/10447/Overview

Here is the recording of tonight’s Zoom meeting on SB431, during which we discuss why this bill is so important for the disability community: https://vote-nevada.news/SB431-Needs-A-Hearing

The bill is sitting in the Senate Government Affairs Committee, so it is the Chair of that committee, Senator Edgar Flores, who has the power to schedule SB431 for a hearing.  Please help our disability community, which lacks high-powered lobbyists, by respectfully reaching out to Senator Flores and the other committee members to request a hearing for SB431 at these email addresses:

• Edgar Flores – Edgar.Flores@sen.state.nv.us
• James Ohrenschall – James.Ohrenschall@sen.state.nv.us
• Skip Daly Skip.Daly@sen.state.nv.us
• Pete Goicoechea Pete.Goicoechea@sen.state.nv.us
• Lisa Krasner Lisa.Krasner@sen.state.nv.us

Thank you for helping,

Sondra Cosgrove

Vote Nevada Supporters,

If you are looking for bills that died due to failing to make it out of their first committee, go to:

The legislature’s website, click on NELIS at the top of the page, click on Legislation above the Daily Schedule, click on Reports and Links, click on Bill Reports, click on Deadlines and Exemptions, click on Bills that Failed to Meet the Deadline, and then select Committee Passage (First House) in the drop-down box. 

I have been working with the Statewide Independent Living Council over the interim and that group is very interested in SB431, which is one of the Governor’s bills.  SB431, in part, would add five secretaries to a new executive cabinet. 

Nevadans with disabilities interface with many different state agencies and offices that often do not work smoothly together due to different missions and regulations, which can create a lot of confusion and frustration. 

These Nevadans are therefore very interested in whether having someone in the Governor’s office who can coordinate state agency services would help to address this problem.

Vote Nevada is therefore hosting a Zoom meeting on April 20, 2023, from 6 to 7 pm, to review SB431 and discuss why members of the disability community see this bill as a possible solution to their frustrations.  If you are interested in attending, RSVP at t.ly/RoA7

The National Constitution Center has new education videos available here: https://constitutioncenter.org/education/videos

Thank you for being Nevadans with me,

Sondra

Vote Nevada Supporters,

Friday, April 14^th, was the deadline for bills to be affirmatively voted out of their first committee.  Quite a few bills are now dead, but not all bills that failed to receive a committee vote are dead.  Some bills were declared exempt, such as the Governor’s five bills, and some bills were amended into other bills, so, technically the bill is dead, but the language is still alive in a live bill.  

If one of your bills appears to be dead, check on its NELIS page to see if it has DECLARED EXEMPT at the top.  And if is not declared exempt, reach out to the bill sponsor to see if the bill’s language has been amended into another bill.

Also, be aware that some bills, like AB37, have been re-referred to one of the “money committees.” In the Assembly, it is Ways and Means, while in the Senate it is Finance.  If a bill has a fiscal note that is not covered in the Governor’s budget, it will need to be paid for before moving forward. 

Unlike past legislative sessions where the amount of money needed exceeded the amount of revenue available, in this session we have a budget surplus.  So, just being re-referred to a money committee does not mean the bill is automatically dead due to a lack of funding.  We still need to show up during public comments in the money committee hearings to show support for these bills because there is a chance the money is available. 

The next big deadline is April 25^th.  All bills must pass affirmatively out of the house of origin to stay alive.  Assembly bills must receive a majority vote on the Assembly floor and Senate bills must receive a majority vote on the Senate floor.  Successful bills then move to the other house to start the committee process all over again.

Another important meeting coming up on May 1^st is the Economic Forum. The Economic Forum consists of experts in economics and finance who review statistical benchmarks in the national and state economies to determine how much revenue will be available over the next two years.  The Economic Forum last met in December and the Governor used that forecast for determining his budget.  

If the Economic Forum determines that the economy is stronger than anticipated, the Forum commissioners may revise their revenue forecast upward.  This extra money can then be used to pay for the unfunded fiscal notes sitting in the money committees.

The Economic Forum’s meetings are live-streamed through the legislature’s website similar to legislative committee hearings.  You can see more information about May 1, 2023, 9:30 am meeting here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/Interim2021/Meeting/24305

Tomorrow, April 17^th, starting at 1:30 pm, in celebration of Earth Day, the Carson City Democratic Men’s Club luncheon speaker is Chas Macquarie whose presentation focuses on the impact of the electrification of buildings and vehicles on the climate.  If you would like to Zoom in, please email Rich Dunn at richdunn as one word and then @aol.com.

As a historian, I always start with primary sources when I determine whether I support or oppose something.  Hearing other people’s perceptions and perspectives is useful, but I decide for myself after doing my own research.  This is definitely the case when I decide to vote for someone, support or oppose a bill, or join a reform movement.

We spoke directly to Nevada’s Forward Party Chair Cesar Marquez about the Forward Party organizing in Nevada, and now that we are hearing that No Labels has arrived in Nevada, we will speak directly to No Labels representatives.  So, on Saturday, April 22^nd, from 9 to 10 am, via Zoom, we can listen as a first step in our evaluation and decision-making process. 

If you would like to join us, please RSVP here: https://vote-nevada.news/No-Labels-Party-Presentation

Also on April 22nd, there is a Pow Wow for the Planet at UNLV from 11 am to 7 pm.  It is open to the public.

 Lastly, save the date! Vote Nevada is arranging with partners for an official in-person viewing of the film The Young Vote in Las Vegas on August 25^th and in Reno on August 26^th.  Both viewings will include the producer/director Diane Robinson and the film’s cast joining us in person.  Diane and the cast are flying into Las Vegas on August 24^th to attend the ACLU NV gala at the Paris Hotel and then we will view the film at CSN on the 25^th and a place to be determined in Reno on the 26^th.

I am sure you all have been reading the same articles I have about how important the Gen Z vote will be in 2024, so, I am thrilled that we will be able to uplift this topic for Women’s Equality Day, which is August 26^th this year.  I will have more details about this opportunity soon. 

Sondra

Vote Nevada: Solving Problems with Civics

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