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Legislative subcommittee rejects new DPS illicit-cannabis unit, approves other public safety budget actions
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Summary
The joint subcommittee on public safety, natural resources and transportation declined to approve funding for a proposed Department of Public Safety illicit cannabis unit but approved multiple other staffing, fee and IT-related budget items.
A legislative joint subcommittee on public safety, natural resources and transportation voted not to approve the governor's proposal to create a new illicit cannabis unit within the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS), while approving other department staffing changes, transfers and budget policies.
Tom Weber of the LCB Fiscal Analysis Division presented the DPS closing recommendations. Following a motion to reconsider an earlier subcommittee split, Assemblymember Monroe Moreno moved, and the panel approved, a motion not to fund the governor's recommendation of general fund appropriations totaling $679,919 in FY26 and $701,497 in FY27 for one new DPS sergeant position and four new DPS officer positions to establish an illicit cannabis unit. The motion carried on a voice vote after the assembly reconsideration process.
The subcommittee approved multiple other DPS budget actions. It approved one new IT manager and the transfer and funding-source change for four positions to expand the research and planning technology team; approved funding for one background investigation technician; and approved certain training-division positions (one DPS major to serve as chief of training and two DPS sergeants to support in-service training). The panel approved a transfer of eight DPS officer positions from the training division to other divisions to create a rotating pool for training officers, and approved targeted funding for non–state-owned office rent tied to the department's move to new Las Vegas office space.
The subcommittee also approved a letter of intent directing DPS to provide a status update to the interim finance committee by July 1, 2026, on implementation of the ignition interlock program, including regulation finalization and fee-setting needed to support the program. For the state's criminal history repository and Nevada Criminal Justice Information System (NCJIS), the panel recommended budget policies capping general fund support and sought semiannual reporting on fee-structure development and fee increases to align with those caps.
On caseload-related recommendations for parole and probation, the subcommittee accepted caseload projections from an independent contractor and adopted an updated staffing-ratio methodology that produced a net reduction of $4,000,000 in general fund appropriations and an increase of $1,200,000 in county reimbursement revenue over the biennium.
An omnibus motion to approve the DPS closing report and authorize fiscal staff to make technical adjustments was moved by Assemblymember Monroe Moreno, seconded by Senator Wynne, and carried on a voice vote. The subcommittee closed or consolidated multiple DPS budget accounts as listed in the closing documents.
The decision to reject the illicit cannabis unit reflected the assembly members' caution about adding new recurring positions; other approved items focus on restructuring, IT and fee-based funding to support ongoing operations.
