Senate Bill 108, which would change how Nevada manages a state account that funds channel clearance, maintenance and restoration projects, moved forward in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee after proponents said the measure would provide greater flexibility and timelier access to funding.

Sen. Robin Titus, sponsor of SB 108, told the committee the bill "revives provisions governing the account for channel clearance, maintenance, restoration, surveying, and monumenting program" and makes two principal changes: raise the threshold for discretionary funding requests from $250,000 to $500,000 and clarify that only uncommitted funds count toward the account balance when determining the need to request contingency funding.

Edwin (Ed) James, general manager of the Carson Water Subconservancy District, described why the increase matters. "Increasing the funding cap from $250,000 to $500,000 recognizes the increasing costs of channel clearance and reflects the statewide scope of these projects," he said. James told the committee the last statutory adjustment to the cap occurred in 2017 and that committed but unspent funds — for example, projects delayed by permitting or multi‑year bids — currently prevent the state from reallocating resources to other urgent projects.

Proponents said the account supports local conservancy districts that perform most channel maintenance on state‑owned riverbeds and that the state fund frequently acts as match for federal grants. Taylor Avery of the Vegas Chamber and Austin Lemons of the Carson/Dan[e] Valley Conservation District testified in support, citing protection of housing, agriculture and infrastructure along the Carson River. James Hittlemar, director of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, testified neutral and acknowledged rising costs since 2017.

Committee members asked about the account's history and operational details; witnesses explained that permitting delays and committed grants can tie up funds and that the bill's clarification would let the State Engineer seek contingency money when the uncommitted balance falls below the new cap. The sponsor and witnesses emphasized the change would not create a new program but adjust the mechanics of an existing statute first created in the 1970s.

In a work session immediately following the hearing, the committee moved to "do pass" SB 108. The motion was made by Vice Chair LaRue Hatch and seconded; the committee recorded the motion as passing unanimously by voice vote.

If enacted, SB 108 would increase the account cap to $500,000 and allow the State Engineer to request contingency funds when the account's uncommitted funds fall below the cap, enabling more timely distributions for urgent channel maintenance and clearing projects.