Committee advances bill to replace gendered assembly titles with 'assembly member' in NRS

CARSON CITY — The Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections on Thursday approved Assembly Bill 588, which amends references in the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) to replace gendered titles with the gender‑neutral term “assembly member.”

Sponsor Assemblymember Erica Mosca, who represents Assembly District 14, said the bill “largely makes technical changes to replace assemblywoman and assemblyman with assembly member” and highlighted two substantive provisions: removal of authority for a female member to use “assemblywoman” on official stationery and a requirement that the Department of Motor Vehicles issue a special license plate that reads “State Assembly Member” with a seniority number for each member. The DMV provision does not take effect until after the 2026 general election to avoid reprinting costs, Mosca said.

Support and opposition: Testimony split along lines of preference and symbolism. Supporters told the committee they favored consistent, gender‑neutral nomenclature; Assemblymember Danielle Monroe‑Miranda said the senate uses the single term “senator” and argued the assembly should adopt the same approach. Opponents, including Joshua Skaggs of the Nevada Republican Party and several callers, said the change erases meaningful recognition for women and preferred that members retain the option to choose a gendered title. Janine Hanson, state chairman of the Independent American Party, testified in opposition and said the change “demeans” the recognition of women.

Cost and timing: Committee counsel Asher Killian said the DMV reported issuing member plates as part of routine post‑election reissuance; by delaying the effective date until after the 2026 general election, staff concluded the change would avoid a separate fiscal impact from an out‑of‑cycle plate reprint. The sponsor and counsel said that timing was chosen to avoid a fiscal note tied to immediate reprinting.

Committee action: The committee waived the 24‑hour rule and moved AB588 to a do‑pass recommendation. The motion to do pass was made by Vice Chair Gonzales, seconded by Assemblymember Hadeghi; recorded nay votes were cast by Assemblymembers Hibbets, Cole, Edgeworth and Dickman.

Context: The committee noted the change is intended to conform statutory language in NRS to joint standing rules adopted earlier in the legislature that already use the gender‑neutral title in committee and floor practice. Some opponents argued that standing rules should follow statute rather than the other way around; a caller said codifying the change in statute would make it harder to reverse.

What happens next: With the committee’s do‑pass recommendation, AB588 will be reported to the Assembly floor for further consideration. The statutory changes are technical but have prompted debate about symbolism and gendered language in legislative practice.