Bill would return Nevada State Fairgrounds oversight to Department of Agriculture; county and community groups back measure

Assembly Bill 333 was presented to the Senate Government Affairs Committee by Assemblyman Ken Gray and Senator Angie Taylor; Deputy Director Doug Farris of the Nevada Department of Agriculture and Washoe County representative Cadence Matejevich explained the proposal to return the Nevada State Fairgrounds (the fair portion of a larger parcel) to the Department of Agriculture’s oversight.

Committee presenters described the parcel’s long history: it was deeded with a trust to the state for agricultural promotion in the late 19th century and has been leased to Washoe County since 1951 (with revisions in 1971). Under AB333, the parcel would be subdivided by recorded legal description so that the Washoe County public‑building complex (the county offices) remains on a separately leased piece, while the fairgrounds lands to the north would transfer to the Department of Agriculture. The bill establishes a continuing account for the Nevada State Fairgrounds in the state treasury to accept gifts, grants and donations, authorizes the Department to accept and spend funds for maintenance and operations, and directs Washoe County and the Division of State Lands to complete boundary surveys and new lease arrangements for the non‑trust portion of the parcel.

Deputy Director Farris said the department would continue to coordinate with the Reno‑Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA), which currently manages the fairground properties and events; testimony emphasized that day‑to‑day management would continue under existing management agreements while the department assumed trust oversight and would pursue reviving the Nevada State Fair and agricultural programming. Cadence Matejevich (Washoe County) and Charlie Donohue (Division of State Lands) told the committee the new map and lease arrangements would allow for continuity of events and shared parking arrangements with the rodeo while returning fairground administration consistent with the original agricultural trust.

Local stakeholders — including the Nevada Western Heritage Center Alliance, the Reno Rodeo Association, University of Nevada, Reno (College of Agriculture) and Nevada Farm Bureau — testified in support, citing preservation of agricultural education, the livestock show and potential capital improvements. Committee members questioned how revenues, maintenance costs and capital improvements would be handled; witnesses said the RSCVA would continue to manage events and parking and that the new state account would accept gifts and donations, with the potential for future capital requests through the state’s CIP process if needed.

The bill drew broad stakeholder support in testimony; the committee did not record a committee vote in the hearing portion of the transcript.