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:
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 14th, 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 25th. 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 1st 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 17th, 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 22nd, 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 25th and in Reno on August 26th. 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 24th to attend the ACLU NV gala at the Paris Hotel and then we will view the film at CSN on the 25th and a place to be determined in Reno on the 26th.
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 26th this year. I will have more details about this opportunity soon.
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,
The next legislative deadline is this upcoming Friday, April 14th. Bills must be voted affirmatively out of committee in the legislative house of origination (the side of the legislature where the bill started) to stay alive.
Here are two interesting bills for this week:
Monday, April 10, 2023
Restorative justice needs adequate wraparound services, so we need more services for early learning and families.
Call of Chair
AB348 Creates the Virtual Early Childhood Family Engagement Pilot Program in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services
AB348 Work Session
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
4:00 PM
AB37 Our Behavioral Health Workforce Center bill is moving to a work session!!!
AB37 (WS)
Here are a few events for the next week:
Monday, April 10, 2023, via Zoom The Carson City Democratic Men’s Club is sponsoring luncheon speaker Sara Mann on the topic of medical aid in dying: https://carsonnow.org/reader-content/04/08/2023/medical-aid-dying-topic-mondays-democratic-luncheon
The presentation starts at 1:30. If you would like to join via Zoom, please email Rich Dunn for the link at richdunn as one word and then @aol.com.
Thursday, April 13th, from 2 to 4 pm, the Nevada Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is holding its second hearing on Teacher Shortages and their Impact on Education Equity. The public will also be able to attend this second hearing. As soon as I have the link to sign up to attend, I will send an update email.
Saturday, April 15th, from 12:30 to 1:30 pm, the Las Vegas Branch of the NAACP monthly meeting is at the Pearson Center, 1625 West Carey, LV, 89106.
Sunday, April 16th, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Nevada NOW is hosting a Legislative Update meeting via Zoom, RSVP here: t.ly/9SqN
Saturday, April 22nd, from 9:00 to 10:00 am, Vote Nevada is hosting a Zoom presentation from the No Labels Party. Similar to our meeting about the Forward Party, we will be hearing from a No Labels Party representative. You can RSVP here: https://vote-nevada.news/No-Labels-Party-Presentation
You can read about the No Labels Party here: https://www.nolabels.org/
With our nonpartisan voter registration surging each month, I am sure Nevada is on the radar of all the minor political parties. If we go into the 2024 election cycle with 40 percent of our voters not registered with a major political party, a lot of eyes will be on the Silver State. To watch a webinar with civil rights leader Dr. Ben Chavis from No Labels, the recording is here: https://youtu.be/06vzNkuDwCs
You can review Nevada’s voter registration data on the Nevadans for Election Reform website; Doug Goodman has been tracking Nevada’s voter registration data each month for many years: https://nevadansforelectionreform.org/blog/
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,
The Nevada Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is starting a study this week: Teacher Shortages and the Impact on Education Equity. Our first panel is this Thursday and includes researchers and elected representatives. The meeting is on April 6, 2023, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, via Zoom. The public is welcome to attend, so, you can Register here: t.ly/mcQq
Saturday’s Zoom meeting to read through the Governor’s priority legislation went long, so, I am going to record a shorter version to post later this week. But there are three things the attendees discussed quite a bit, so, I would like to share those three things.
We compared the Governor’s bill that repeals the mandate for using restorative justice practices in public schools, AB330, with Assemblywoman Angie Taylor’s bill that also repeals the mandate for using restorative practices in public schools, AB285. One major difference between the bills is the process for monitoring possible disproportional discipline.
AB330 includes a process for collecting data and a supervisory role in monitoring that data for any signs of implicit bias. AB285 does not have parallel language. We discussed this difference quite a bit and whether we need such language.
When we reviewed SB405, which is the governor’s proposal to change current election laws, we discussed the proposed idea to create a new type of ID. The bill proposes creating a voter identification card that uses a person’s status as a registered voter as proof of identity, not a birth certificate.
In Nevada, if a person lacks a DMV driver’s license or ID, we verify their eligibility to vote through the person’s social security number and proof of residency. So, we know a person’s identity because the person is registered to vote. SB405 instructs the DMV to provide voters who cannot receive a driver’s license or DMV-issued ID due to lacking a birth certificate with a free voter ID card that includes the same information as a driver’s license or DMV-issued ID.
We wondered if this new type of state ID could then also be used to apply for social services. All social services require a person to have an official ID to qualify for the services, so, anyone who lacks an ID is shut out from help. Trying to access a birth certificate from another state can be quite burdensome, so, allowing someone to receive a state-issued ID that connects to a person’s social security number instead may remove a barrier to getting vulnerable populations services.
The third thing we discussed in SB405 is that the bill replaces signature verification with number verification when counting mail-in ballots. Instead of signing the outside of the mail-in ballot envelope, the voter writes their driver’s license or DMV-ID number, voter identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number under a flap so it cannot be seen by postal workers. There were thousands of mail-in ballots that went uncounted in the 2022 primary and general elections due to missing or mismatched signatures, so, we discussed whether switching to a number would at least limit the number of ballots with mismatched signatures being thrown out.
I will send out a full review of the bills later this week.
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,
Our viewing of “The Young Vote” with special guest producer/director Diane Robinson was fabulous, and the film is just phenomenal. If you would like to view the film, please respond to this message by April 7th.
We are heading into week 9 of the legislative session. The next three deadlines are already driving the overall agenda. Tuesday, April 4th, is the day budgets must start to close for the state agencies. All bills must pass out of their first committee by Friday, April 14th. And all bills must receive a vote on the floor of their first house by Tuesday, April 25th. Any bill that misses one of these deadlines is technically dead.
Of course, any of these deadlines can be postponed and individual bills can be granted deadline exceptions; but these options will get harder to exercise the closer we get to the constitutionally required end of the session, which is June 5th.
You can see this week’s scheduled hearings for a wide range of bills and budgets here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/
Tomorrow, April 3rd, the Carson City Democratic Men’s Committee is hosting Calen Evans, President of the Washoe Education Association, as their luncheon speaker. Calen will be discussing education legislation and funding. You can participate on Zoom at 1:30 pm by emailing Rich Dunn for the link at richdunn as one word and then @aol.com.
On Wednesday, April 5th, at 8 am, Hispanics in Politics is hosting four Latina leaders for this month’s breakfast. Ruth Garcia Anderson (North Las Vegas City Council), Lorena Portillo (our new Clark County Registrar of Voters), Ramona Esparza (Leadership Institute of Nevada), and Dr. Silvia Lazos (UNLV Law Professor). You can read more about the event here: https://fb.me/e/NzNp6D9T
Thursday, April 6th The Nevada Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will host a Zoom briefing on the Teacher and Professional Personnel Shortage in Nevada and its impact on Education Equity from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm As soon as I have the Zoom link for the public to attend, I will send it.
Friday, April 7th, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, hosted by Indivisible Northern Nevada:
WHAT: Rally to Pass the Freedom to Vote Act https://dfadcoalition.org/
WHERE: Rep. Amodei’s Congressional Office in Reno | lawn facing Kietzke Lane
WHEN: Friday, April 7th, 11:30AM – 12:30PM
REGISTER HERE: https://mobilize.us/s/CfddiY
You still have time to RSVP for tonight’s review of the Governor’s legislative priority bills, we will start at 6 pm on Zoom. RSVP here: https://vote-nevada.news/Review-Governor-Bills
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 lot is happening in real-time this week, so, we need a mid-week update.
Today, at a press conference, Governor Lombardo’s Chief of Staff Ben Kieckhefer released the document below that summarizes the Governor’s legislative agenda. A link to each bill is also below. Again, we need to ensure we are all discussing the same facts, so, knowing what each bill includes is important.
Governor Lombardo’s Legislative Priorities
The bills are long and include a lot, so, I am scheduling a Vote Nevada meeting on Sunday, April 2, 2023, from 6 to 7:30 pm, via Zoom, to review the Governor’s six bills. You can RSVP to join me here: https://vote-nevada.news/Review-Governor-Bills
Also, here are some bills that have been added to tomorrow and Friday:
1:00 PM
SB278 Provides tax credits for businesses that provide childcare services support.
Senate Committee on Revenue and Economic Development
1:30 PM
AB241 Requires students to be automatically enrolled in the college prep diploma program with the option of parents opting their child out.
Assembly Committee on Education
3:30 PM
SB216 and SB327 both address voting on our Native American reservations.
Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections
Friday, March 31, 2023
9:00 AM
AB305 Ensures women are hired at a certain percentage for vertical public works construction projects.
Assembly Committee on Government Affairs
Lastly, there is still time to RSVP for our Saturday viewing, from 3 to 5 pm, of The Young Vote: https://vote-nevada.news/The-Young-Vote-Viewing
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,
Saturday, April 1st, the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators is hosting Dr. Kyle Rogers who will discuss Discipline Practices in the Clark County School District, starting at 1 pm via Zoom. You can RSVP here: t.ly/ki6O
Saturday, April 1st, Vote Nevada is hosting a special movie viewing from 3 to 5 pm, via Zoom. We are watching the new indie movie called The Young Vote and the film producer, Diane Robinson, is our special guest. You can RSVP here: https://vote-nevada.news/The-Young-Vote-Viewing
Monday, March 27, 2023, is scheduled to be the cutoff for accepting new bills from legislators. The legislature can move the deadline again, so, we will see what happens.
You can view this week’s upcoming legislative calendar as well as view committee and bill information here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023
You can view past Vote Nevada Updates here: https://vote-nevada-blog.org/
There was an 8-hour hearing yesterday with the Joint Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committee. The Committee heard from the 17 county school superintendents on proposed funding for K12 education. Again, this recording is a primary source to build the foundation for analyzing the facts related to proposed K12 funding.
You can review the hearing here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Meeting/11865?p=1011865
Of course, we also need to keep in mind that school funding does not encompass all the behavioral health services needed to ensure children and their families have the tools to address issues that happen outside of the school. We must pair the two together.
Here are some of this week’s important hearings:
Monday, March 27, 2023
1:00 PM
AB47: Presentation on Background and Findings of the Commission on School Funding
Friday, March 31, 2023
4:00 PM
This hearing is a continuation of the presentation by the school districts on funding for K12.
Joint Meeting of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Committee on Finance
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,
Some very important legislative hearings related to education policy happened over the last week. The topics covered, school policing and restorative justice, are very serious, and because the topics are politically sensitive, a lot of misinformation is already circulating. As a historian, my strategy for determining the truth from partisan spin is to examine primary sources, so, here are the hearing links.
Background: In the 2019 legislative session Assembly Bill 168 proposed to replace progressive discipline with restorative justice practices. That bill passed and was meant to provide wraparound services for students and their families when students acted out. You can watch the AB168 hearings below if you would like to hear exactly what was said and intended:
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/6255/Overview
Everyone now agrees that the wraparound services were not and have not been funded, but there are divergent views on what we should do to address the post-pandemic rise in school violence.
Here is a presentation from last week in the Assembly Education Committee on a bill that proposes changes to AB168 by removing the restorative justice requirement. You can read the bill, AB285, and watch the hearing here:
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Meeting/11871?p=1011871
Today the Governor submitted a bill to address the debate over restorative justice with AB330, which also repeals restorative justice. You can read the bill and watch the hearing here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bill/10198/Meetings
A third hearing related to school violence happened yesterday at a joint meeting of the Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Judiciary Committee. This was a special hearing with CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara and Captain of CCSD Policy Henry Blackeye.
While the committee did show the video of the incident that recently happened at Durango High School, the majority of the hearing is a discussion of CCSD policing policies and administrative processes for dealing with complaints of excessive use of force. You can watch the hearing here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Meeting/11865?p=1011865
If we hope to solve these very serious issues, we all should view the evidence. While we may disagree about interpretations of the evidence, we all need to understand the same facts free from partisan spin.
Also, the Represent Women Democracy Solution Summit from two weeks ago now has recordings available you can watch by scrolling to the middle of this page: https://www.representwomen.org/democracy_solutions_summit
Lastly, please RSVP to join Vote Nevada for a screening of The Young Vote with special guest Diane Robinson, the film’s producer, on April 1st, from 3 to 5 pm, via Zoom. You can RSVP here: t.ly/sbCJ
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 