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Elko County commissioner seeks Washoe County support for 'Common Sense Land Act' to transfer small parcels for local uses
Summary
Elko County Commissioner Rex Steninger presented the Elko County 'Common Sense Land Act' to Washoe County Commissioners on May 13, asking for Washoe County's support for a statewide bill that would enable willing counties to request specific federal parcels for local development, recreation or conservation.
Rex Steninger, an Elko County commissioner, appeared before the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners on May 13 to ask Washoe County to formally support the Elko County Common Sense Land Act, a legislative proposal Elko County adopted in 2023 and is now seeking to advance in Congress through multijurisdictional support.
Steninger emphasized that the bill is narrow in scope: it would authorize willing counties to request transfers of specific, limited federal parcels for public uses—development, recreation, or conservation—rather than a wholesale transfer of public lands. “I need to stress that this act is is very limited in its scope,” Steninger told the board. He said Elko County has sought support from other rural Nevada counties and that Passage in Congress would be easier with a broader, statewide version than with numerous individual county bills.
Commissioners asked questions about outreach requirements and safeguards. Vice Chair Herman thanked Steninger for traveling from Elko and for the historical context he provided. Commissioner Garcia asked whether the bill includes opportunities for stakeholder outreach (hunters, anglers, tribal partners and others); Steninger said the bill authorizes review by county wildlife boards and the state board of wildlife commissioners and that additional public comment would be part of the county and state review processes.
Steninger said eight rural counties had already signed support letters and that the act attempts to make it simpler for counties to acquire small parcels needed for public purposes (cemeteries, shooting ranges and other community needs) rather than repeatedly drafting large, county-specific land bills for Congress. Washoe County took the item under discussion; no formal vote to endorse the bill occurred on May 13.
Steninger asked commissioners to consider support and noted that if Washoe County and Clark County lend backing, the bill would have much greater traction in Washington, D.C.
