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Assembly Natural Resources committee refers AB 419 to fiscal committee without recommendation
Summary
After a work session on AB 419, the Nevada Assembly Committee on Natural Resources voted to refer the bill to the fiscal committee without recommendation. Members voiced concerns about potential impacts on the state engineer's workload and water law; several reserved the right to change their votes later.
The Nevada Assembly Committee on Natural Resources on Deadline Day voted to refer Assembly Bill 419 to the Assembly fiscal committee without recommendation after a brief work session and discussion.
Becky Peratt, a Legislative Counsel Bureau policy analyst, told the committee that "Assembly Bill 419 revises provisions relating to certain applications concerning water, the standard of judicial review for certain orders and decisions of the state engineer and the application of the Nevada Administrative Procedures Act to the state engineer." She also said one of the amendments being considered is attached to the work session document and that "a correction will be uploaded to NELIS."
The committee considered amendments presented by the bill sponsor, Assemblymember DeLong. Assemblymember Watts asked for clarification about which amendment was under consideration, noting that she had received an earlier amendment from DeLong that would "delete all sections of the bill except 1, 4 and 10." Committee staff and the sponsor clarified that the committee would consider the amendment presented by Assemblymember DeLong earlier that day.
Assemblymember DeLong moved to refer AB 419 without recommendation so it could proceed to the fiscal committee; Assemblymember Watts seconded the motion. Vice Chair Larew Hatch said he "still have[s] deep concerns with the bill even as amended," expressing worry about an "increased workload on the state engineer" and that the bill could "upend current water law and bias[] towards applicants." Assemblymember Watts said she also had "significant concerns" but voted to move the bill forward while reserving the right to change her position later. Assemblymember Jackson said, "With the amendments I've presented, I will be a no, but, I want to reserve my right to vote differently," and later recorded himself as a "nay with reservation."
The clerk recorded the motion as adopted. Committee members recorded as voting no were Vice Chair Larew Hatch, Assemblymember Karas and Assemblymember Jackson; the remaining members voted in favor and the measure will proceed to the fiscal committee for further consideration.
The committee then closed the work session on AB 419 and moved to public comment, where no members of the public participated in the locations polled.
