Legislative committees fund additional Gaming Control Board investigators, approve selective positions and shift some forfeiture-funded costs to general fund

Kimber Ellsworth of the Fiscal Analysis Division presented multiple closing items for the Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission, and the joint committee approved several staffing and budget changes across accounts.

For the Gaming Control Board’s investigation division, the committee approved transfers from the Gaming Investigative Fund totaling $2.2 million over the 2025–27 biennium to fund eight new unclassified positions (a mix of supervisors, senior agents, agents and special agents) to address an investigation backlog. The agency told the committee it receives approximately 200 nonrestricted gaming license applications annually and currently processes 10–15 per month with existing staff; the additional positions were presented as a means to reduce backlog and process investigations more expeditiously.

On the tax and license side, the governor proposed six new unclassified positions funded with $1.6 million in general funds. Committee members raised general-fund concerns and instead approved a motion to fund four new unclassified positions (two agents, one special agent and one supervisor) funded by $1.1 million in general funds for the 2025–27 biennium, producing a stated general-fund savings of $506,628 compared with the governor’s recommendation.

In the administration division, the governor recommended two positions — a Public Information Officer and an Administrative Services Officer — funded at $404,855 in general funds. The committee approved funding only the Administrative Services Officer (grade 41) at a cost of $219,114 over the biennium and declined to fund the Public Information Officer, citing general-fund constraints.

The committee also approved the governor’s recommendation to provide general funds of $1.1 million over the biennium for enforcement division operational expenditures (including $569,198 in operational expenditures) and to change the funding source for two agent positions from federal forfeiture funds to general funds. Fiscal staff explained the agency was notified in October 2024 that it is no longer eligible to participate in the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of the Treasury equitable sharing programs; unspent equitable sharing funds must be returned to the federal government if not expended by June 30, 2026.

The committee approved an administrative assistant position for the Nevada Gaming Commission funded with $132,736 in general funds over the biennium and closed several other technical items; related action to fund the eight investigative positions was closed consistent with the Gaming Control Board decision.

All motions were approved on voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.