Nevada Assembly reads hundreds of prefiled measures and refers bills to committees; several referrals changed on the floor

The Nevada Assembly read a long list of prefiled measures and sent them to committee during its Feb. 4 floor session in Carson City, including a motion that referred “Assembly Bills 1 through 227” to the committees listed on the Assembly floor agenda for Feb. 4, 2025. Assemblymember Howdege moved the referral during the session; the voice vote was recorded as carried.

Why it matters: The blanket reading and referral of a large package of bills sets the committees that will consider each measure and determines which subject-matter panels will vet and hold hearings. The committee assignments affect legislative timing and how quickly bills can advance to floor votes.

The session included the formal transmission of several joint and concurrent resolutions from the Senate and the introduction—by committee or by individual lawmakers—of many Assembly bills on a range of subjects. Examples named on the floor included Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1 (a proposal to amend the Nevada Constitution relating to property taxes) and Assembly Joint Resolution No. 2 (a provision to require bill text be made public at least 72 hours before a chamber may vote on final passage). The clerk read the titles of more than 200 prefiled Assembly bills aloud as members listened.

During the floor session lawmakers also approved several changes to committee referrals after the initial blanket referral. On the floor the Assembly rescinded earlier referrals and re‑referred specific bills to different panels. Notable referral changes the floor approved (voice votes): rescinding the original referral of Assembly Bill 54 to Growth and Infrastructure and re-referring AB 54 to Judiciary; rescinding the referral of AB 87 to Growth and Infrastructure and re-referring AB 87 to Ways and Means; rescinding the referral of AB 107 and re-referring it to Judiciary; rescinding the referral of AB 111 and re-referring it to Judiciary; rescinding the referral of AB 119 and re-referring AB 119 to Judiciary; rescinding the referral of AB 171 and re-referring AB 171 to Natural Resources; rescinding the referral of AB 175 and re-referring AB 175 to Judiciary; and rescinding the referral of AB 197 and re-referring AB 197 to Judiciary.

Those referral changes were moved and approved on the floor by members identified in the transcript as Assemblymember Howdege (motions to move or re-refer) and approved by voice vote with the presiding officer announcing “Motion carries.” The session used voice voting; the transcript records “aye”/“nay” outcomes rather than roll-call tallies for each motion.

The large reading and referral was procedural but significant because it placed hundreds of upcoming policy proposals with the committees that will determine their path. The bills read aloud covered a broad range of areas—public safety, education, health and human services, taxation, transportation and infrastructure, natural resources, and more—based on committee sponsorship listed during the introductions. Several bills the clerk read by title would seek constitutional amendments, make appropriations, create or revise state programs, or alter regulatory provisions, but the floor actions on Feb. 4 were limited to introduction and committee referral rather than final action on policy.

The Assembly also paused the floor to recognize guests attending Transportation Day at the Legislature and accepted a brief acknowledgement of the News Literacy Project attendees. The day’s business concluded with a motion to adjourn until Feb. 6, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., which was carried by voice vote.

What’s next: All bills introduced Feb. 4 will be scheduled for committee consideration based on the referrals assigned. Committee chairs and staff will publish hearing notices and agendas for the measures they receive, and members of the public and stakeholders can monitor committee schedules to follow specific bills.

Votes at a glance: The following floor motions (voice votes) were recorded in the transcript as passed. Each entry lists the motion text as it appears in the transcript and the mover when shown.

“I move that Assembly Bills 1 through Assembly Bills 227 be referred to the committees as listed on the Assembly floor agenda dated February 4, 2025.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

“I request that the motion whereby Assembly Bill 54 was referred to the Committee on Growth and Infrastructure be rescinded.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Follow-up: “I move that Assembly Bill 54 be re referred to the Committee on Judiciary.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

“I request that the motion whereby Assembly Bill 87 was referred to the Committee on Growth and Infrastructure be rescinded.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Follow-up: “I move that Assembly Bill 87 be re referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

“I request that the motion whereby Assembly Bill 107 was referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services be rescinded.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Follow-up: “I move that Assembly Bill 107 be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.” Outcome: approved (voice vote).

“I request that the motion whereby Assembly Bill 111 was referred to the Committee on Growth and Infrastructure be rescinded.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Follow-up: “I move that Assembly Bill 111 be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.” Outcome: approved (voice vote).

“I request that the motion whereby Assembly Bill 119 was referred to your Committee on Government Affairs be rescinded.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Follow-up: “I move that Assembly Bill 119 be re referred to the Committee on Judiciary.” Outcome: approved (voice vote).

“I request that the motion whereby Assembly Bill 171 was referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services be rescinded.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Follow-up: “I move that Assembly Bill 171 be re referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.” Outcome: approved (voice vote).

“I request that the motion whereby Assembly Bill 175 was referred to the Committee on Growth and Infrastructure be rescinded.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Follow-up: “I move that Assembly Bill 175 be re referred to the Committee on Judiciary.” Outcome: approved (voice vote).

“I request that the motion whereby Assembly Bill 197 was referred to the Committee on Government Affairs be rescinded.” Mover: Assemblymember Howdege. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Follow-up: “I move that Assembly Bill 197 be re referred to the Committee on Judiciary.” Outcome: approved (voice vote).

Ending: The Assembly ended the Feb. 4 session after the referrals and scheduled a reconvening for Feb. 6 at 11:30 a.m. The floor used voice votes for the procedural motions recorded in the transcript and did not record roll-call tallies for those items.