League of Women Voters of Nevada 2015 Convention Update

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League Supporters:
The League of Women Voters Of Nevada met June 13th in Las Vegas for our biennial Convention. We elected a new state board, honored two legislators, and discussed plans for the next two years.
Our new League of Women Voters of Nevada State Board is:
President: Janice Browne
1st Vice President: Sondra Cosgrove
2nd Vice President: Beverly Abderrahman
Secretary: Jean Laird
Treasurer: Ann Marie Smith
Directors:
Kathleen Bienenstein
Frances Rust
Nancy Scott
Betty Pardo
Grace Mills
Denise Gerdes
 We discussed the need to recognize political leaders who promote and practice good governance and possibly hosting a Good Governance event after each legislative session to celebrate political leaders who prioritize the greater good.   At the meeting we recognized Chair of the Assembly Taxation Committee, Assemblyman Derek Armstrong, and Assembly Minority Leader, Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, for their efforts this session.
We will be sending letters of recognition to the many other legislators who ensured that Nevada is an exception, not the rule, this year.
The State Board will be meeting over the summer for a strategy session to prioritize issues and align our budget with our priorities. We are already looking toward the upcoming 2016 election and the 2017 legislative session and hope all Nevadans will take this opportunity to register to vote at: www.Vote411.org
If you are not yet a member of the League of Women Voters Of Las Vegas Valley, please join now and support our work:
http://lwvlasvegasvalley.org/
For the latest news updates:
Please follow us on Twitter at: @LWVLVV
Please like our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/League-of-Women-Voters-of-Las-Vegas-Valley/156257151058459
 Sondra Cosgrove

Legislative Update: Week of May 17, 2015

League Supporters:

The focus this week is the Governor’s budget. If the Governor’s budget does not pass, few, if any, funding increases for K-12 education or health and human services will survive the session. The Governor’s tax plan has been amended to include parts of other proposals; you can read the details at: http://www.reviewjournal.com/taxes/sandoval-unveils-262-million-compromise-tax-hike-plan

Last Friday was the deadline for non-exempt bills to be voted affirmatively out of committees in the second house. Parts of some bills with no chance of passing were amended into live bills, but for the most part these bills are dead: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/78th2015/Reports/MissedMay15th.cfm

By Friday May 22nd remaining bills must receive an affirmative floor vote in the second house to continue to the Governor’s desk. Budgets and exempt bills will be introduced for floor votes beginning May 27th; and the regular session ends on June 1st.

To have your voice heard you can email your representative, contact committee members, submit your opinion online, and/or provide public comment at the Grant Sawyer Building on 555 E. Washington Ave.

To find your representatives, enter your address in on this page: http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/

You can find committees here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Committees/List

You can submit your opinion on a bill here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/78th2015/A/

To find out when a committee meets to provide testimony at Grant Sawyer, go here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/

**And now you can view past hearings and floor sessions from this video archive page on the legislature’s website: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Granicus/

Sondra

League Legislative Priorities Week of May 11, 2015

League Supporters,

We are in the final stretch of the 2015 legislative session. If nothing else, this session has taught us that Nevada’s governing system is broken. Fittingly, this week we’ll have the opportunity to weigh in on a referendum to create annual sessions. We’ll still only have 120 days of direct legislative representation, but at least under this proposal we’ll have direct representation in the people’s branch of government every year.

Here are the final deadlines:

  • Friday May 15, 2015: Committee Passage (Second House)
  • Thursday May 21, 2015: Finish Budget Differences
  • Friday May 22, 2015: Second House Passage
  • Wednesday May 27, 2015: Budget Bills Introduced; Exempt Bills from Committee
  • June 1, 2015: Sine die

The following League priority bills will be heard the week of May 11, 2015. To have your voice heard you can email your representative, contact committee members, submit your opinion online, and/or provide public comment at the Grant Sawyer Building on 555 E. Washington Ave.

To find your representatives, enter your address in on this page: http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/

You can find committees here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Committees/List

You can submit your opinion on a bill here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/78th2015/A/

To find out when a committee meets to provide testimony at Grant Sawyer, go here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/

**And now you can view past hearings and floor sessions from this video archive page on the legislature’s website: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Granicus/

Monday May 11, 2015

SJR8: A referendum that would go on the 2016 ballot to create annual sessions. In odd years the legislature would meet for 90 work days and then in even years the legislature would meet for 30 work days. This would be an improvement to the current system that leaves Nevadans without direct representation in the co-equal legislative branch of government in even number years.

AB252: Creates an independent legislative advisory commission on redistricting.

3:30 PM

Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections

Agenda

  • Room 2144 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
  • Videoconferenced to Room 4412E of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

Sondra

Legislative Priorities: Week of May 4, 2015

League Supporters,

The Economic Forum met May 1st to review current economic data and forecast projected revenues for the next biennium. The Governor and legislature must budget within the Forum’s projections or raise revenue to cover costs above those projections. The Forum met last in December to provide numbers for the Governor to use to build his budget. Overall, the economy is doing better, but due to approximately $153 million in tax credits Tesla and other entities are entitled to over the next two years, the Forum set revenues at $6.3 million.

This is about $1 billion less than the Governor’s proposed budget, so the legislature must either cut his budget or find ways to raise $1 billion in revenue to fund increases to K-12 education and other programs.  In other words, the next thirty days will be chaotic and tense; making your efforts vitally important.

You can read more at: http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada-legislature/nevada-lawmakers-given-63-billion-revenue-projection-work

Here are the remaining legislative deadlines. If these are not met, we could face a special session, which will cost taxpayers $25,000 a day.

Monday, May 04, 2015: Start Resolving Budget Differences

Friday, May 15, 2015: Committee Passage (Second House)

Thursday, May 21, 2015: Finish Budget Differences

Friday, May 22, 2015: Second House Passage

Wednesday, May 27, 2015: Budget Bills Introduced; Exempt Bills from Committee

The following League priority bills will be heard the week of April 6, 2015. To have your voice heard you can email your representative, contact committee members, submit your opinion online, and/or provide public comment at the Grant Sawyer Building on 555 E. Washington Ave.

To find your representatives, enter your address in on this page: http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/

You can find committees here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Committees/List

You can submit your opinion on a bill here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/78th2015/A/

To find out when a committee meets to provide testimony at Grant Sawyer, go here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/

**And now you can view past hearings and floor sessions from this video archive page on the legislature’s website: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Granicus/

Monday May 4, 2015

Closing of the Education Budgets

8:00 AM

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

Agenda

  • Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.

Wednesday May 6, 2015

 Closing Mental Health Budgets

8:00 AM

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

Agenda

  • Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.

AJR8: Would apply the same two-thirds required vote needed to raise revenue to all initiatives.

3:30 PM

Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections

Agenda

  • Room 2144 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
  • Videoconferenced to Room 4412E of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.
  • AJR8

Sondra

Legislative Update: Week Of April 27, 2015

League Supporters,

This week includes an important legislative milestone on Friday May 1st when the Economic Forum reviews current economic data and confirms revenue projections for the next biennium.

The Governor and legislature are bound to budget within these projections; if either wishes to spend money beyond the Forum’s numbers, taxes must be increased. Currently, both are using the Economic Forum’s December 2014 projections for budgeting purposes.

You can read more about the Economic Forum here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Interim/77th2013/Committee/NonLeg/EcForum/?ID=24

These are the remaining deadlines:

Monday, May 04, 2015: Start Resolving Budget Differences

Friday, May 15, 2015: Committee Passage (Second House)

Thursday, May 21, 2015: Finish Budget Differences

Friday, May 22, 2015: Second House Passage

Wednesday, May 27, 2015: Budget Bills Introduced; Exempt Bills from Committee

Monday June 1st: Last Day of the Regular Session

The following League priority bills will be heard the week of April 27, 2015. To have your voice heard you can email your representative, contact committee members, submit your opinion online, and/or provide public comment at the Grant Sawyer Building on 555 E. Washington Ave.

To find your representatives, enter your address in on this page: http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/

You can find committees here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Committees/List

You can submit your opinion on a bill here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/78th2015/A/

To find out when a committee meets to provide testimony at Grant Sawyer, go here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/

**And now you can view past hearings and floor sessions from this video archive page on the legislature’s website: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Granicus/

Monday April 27, 2015

Presentation and Discussion of Voting Technology

3:30 PM

Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections

Agenda

  • Room 2144 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
  • Videoconferenced to Room 4412E of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.

Wednesday April 29, 2015

AB462: Substantial and potential negative changes to election processes and voter access to the polls

3:30 PM

Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections

Agenda

  • Room 2144 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
  • Videoconferenced to Room 4412E of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.
  • AB462

Sondra

League Priorites Week of April 20, 2015

League Supporters:

As we move through the second half of this legislative session the following deadlines are looming:

Tuesday, April 21, 2015: First House Passage

Friday, May 01, 2015: Economic Forum Report Due

Monday, May 04, 2015: Start Resolving Budget Differences

 Friday, May 15, 2015: Committee Passage (Second House)

 Thursday, May 21, 2015: Finish Budget Differences

 Friday, May 22, 2015: Second House Passage

Wednesday, May 27, 2015: Budget Bills Introduced; Exempt Bills from Committee

Monday June 1st: Last Day of the Regular Session

As bills hit the deadline to pass through the House of Origination, floor sessions will be very important. You can view the File and watch floor sessions at: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/

The following League priority bills will be heard the week of April 20, 2015. To have your voice heard you can email your representative, contact committee members, submit your opinion online, and/or provide public comment at the Grant Sawyer Building on 555 E. Washington Ave.

To find your representatives, enter your address in on this page: http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/

You can find committees here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Committees/List

You can submit your opinion on a bill here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/78th2015/A/

To find out when a committee meets to provide testimony at Grant Sawyer, go here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Calendar/A/

**And now you can view past hearings and floor sessions from this video archive page on the legislature’s website: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Granicus/

Wednesday April 23, 2015

AB94: Allows a voter to opt to receive the Sample Ballot in electronic format.

3:30 PM

Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections

Agenda

  • Room 2144 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
  • Videoconferenced to Room 4412E of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.
  • AB94

Sondra

April 18th Meeting Follow Up

League Supporters,

Thanks to everyone who attended our April 18th meeting. We all learned a lot in just in hour. I wanted to follow up with the meeting information:

  1. NVEnergy’s Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program:

https://www.nvenergy.com/home/saveenergy/rebates/index.cfm

  1. Information from Louise Helton:

http://1sunsolar.co/faq/

Comparison of solar panels: http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/equipment/pv_modules.php

Caparison of inverters: http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/equipment/inverters.php

Hiring a contractor: http://nvcontractorsboard.com/10_tips_for_consumers.html

  1. Information from Ken Kraft:

If you live in an HOA community, federal law allows you to have solar power panels. If you run into trouble with your HOA, you can file a complaint with the Real Estate Ombudsman Office: http://red.state.nv.us/cic/about.htm

  1. The legislative issue that came up related to SB374 and net metering is explained in this article:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/energy/nevada-could-lose-6000-jobs-without-net-metering-cap-hike

  1. Please find below the list of women already covered in the first two Southern Nevada Women’s History Project books, the list of women on the prospects list for the third book, and the submission form if you would like to submit a woman not listed or already a prospect for the third book.
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  1. Below is the flyer for this Saturday’s Genderfication Program.
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Sondra