Senate committee hears bill to create Southern Nevada regional planning pilot

Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop on behalf of the Senate presented Senate Bill 147 on behalf of Senate District 8, which would create the Southern Nevada Regional Planning for Economic resiliency Pilot Program to coordinate regional infrastructure and economic development planning.

The bill, as described by Dondero Loop, would define terms, require the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) to establish an Advisory Committee on Regional Planning for Economic Resiliency and direct that committee to prepare a regional infrastructure plan and a written report to be submitted to the Legislature. "Section 8 creates the program and sets forth its responsibilities including the evaluation of current regional planning process," Dondero Loop said during her presentation.

Nut graf: Proponents told the Senate Government Affairs Committee that the pilot aims to address gaps that deter businesses from locating in Southern Nevada by creating a prioritized, fundable list of infrastructure projects and by coordinating grant packaging for federal investment.

David DeMoor, executive director of the Lindsay Institute and Brookings Mountain West at UNLV, said the pilot responds to a Brookings-commissioned Southern Nevada Regional Industrial Study. "Southern Nevada needs to strengthen its regional planning capacity," DeMoor said, adding the pilot would target infrastructure and transit tied to economic development and identify federal, state and local funding sources.

Deb Reardon of the RTC said the pilot would inventory infrastructure gaps (utilities, roadways, transit), form an advisory committee with representatives from regional economic organizations and local governments, hire a project manager and technical contractor, and develop project packages suitable for federal grant applications. "The pilot would lead to a list of the most important projects for economic growth and redevelopment in the region," Reardon said.

Committee members asked about duplication and funding. Reardon and DeMoor said municipalities and agencies perform some planning but that efforts are often siloed; the pilot’s value would be to coordinate across jurisdictions. The bill’s fiscal note indicates the measure would require a state appropriation "not included in the executive budget," and sponsors said the program would seek that appropriation.

Supporters who testified included representatives from the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas, the Vegas Chamber and disability advocates, who urged inclusive community engagement and local representation on the advisory committee. A caller from Strong Towns Las Vegas expressed concern that the pilot could recreate a regional body that previously dissolved and warned against added bureaucracy.

Ending: The committee closed the hearing on SB 147 after testimony and moved on to other bills. The bill’s next steps were not recorded in the hearing transcript.