Subcommittee backs $2.5 million one-time database and a permit digitization program for Department of Wildlife

The Senate and Assembly joint subcommittee on Public Safety, Natural Resources and Transportation on March 20 unanimously recommended one-time funding to create a centralized wildlife data system for the Nevada Department of Wildlife and approved a separate permit digitization program for non-game species.

Nicolette Johnston of the Legislative Counsel Bureau told the subcommittee the governor recommended $2.5 million in transfers of sportsman's revenue over the 2025-2027 biennium to implement a centralized database to replace disparate electronic and paper records. Johnston said a unified system would let biologists enter and query standardized data to support conservation planning and to respond more quickly to requests from the Commission, the Legislature, department management and the public.

Chair Watts moved to recommend approval of the $2.5 million one-time funding and specified that the funding be treated as one-time (removed from the agency's base for the 2027-2029 biennium). The motion, seconded by Senator Winn, carried unanimously.

Johnston also presented a governor recommendation for a new permit data program to digitize the permit process for non-game species, totalling $57,720 over the biennium (approximately $28,860 per year) from transfers of sportsman's revenue. The program would replace a paper- and PDF-based permit process that requires staff to convert submitted materials into spreadsheets for biologist use. Chair Watts moved to close the item as read by staff; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

The subcommittee closed several other smaller technical items in the data and technology services budget by unanimous consent.