Senate Government Affairs advances dozens of bills; approves limits on gaming in historic restoration projects

The Senate Committee on Government Affairs on Friday advanced a broad package of bills ranging from local redevelopment incentives to changes in state boards and veteran services, voting to amend and pass a number of measures and placing others on consent calendars for the full Senate.

The most contested item was Senate Bill 402, a measure authorizing municipalities to create "restoration improvement districts" and to apply property-tax proceeds toward projects that restore buildings at least 50 years old. Committee members approved a stakeholder amendment that excludes properties that include a nonrestricted gaming operation from qualifying and requires a recorded deed restriction or covenant forbidding a nonrestricted gaming operation on the restored property for at least 20 years. "The written deed restriction or restrictive covenant shall prohibit the building restoration project or any portion of the building restoration project from conducting or operating a non restricted operation ... for a period of at least 20 years," Chair Flores read into the record while the committee discussed the provision. Mike Draper of the Nevada Resort Association said the amendment reflected stakeholder talks and aimed to address concerns about using public financing in ways that could subsidize large gaming operations.

Why it matters: The amendment narrows which historic properties can use restoration improvement districts, responding to testimony about precedent for using public financing with gaming properties. Developers and local governments seeking to rehabilitate older properties will need to accept long-term deed restrictions if they want the district financing, a requirement that some stakeholders said could influence whether they participate in the program.

The committee also debated and advanced Senate Bill 28, a bill sponsored on behalf of the City of Las Vegas that recalibrates tax‑increment area eligibility tied to transit and expands incentives the city can use for certain housing and transit projects. Randy Robinson, director of government affairs for the City of Las Vegas, told the committee the measure is intended to support mixed‑use, transit‑oriented development and would not automatically target any single corridor. "We're principally thinking along some of the major routes that have been identified as transit routes," Robinson said. Seth Floyd, Las Vegas community development director, added the bill's provision to allow building permit fee reductions for projects at 60 to 120 percent of area median income (AMI) was designed to expand an existing city incentive used by roughly 600 units today and to address the "missing middle" of housing that is priced out of the market.

Committee action on SB 28 included a change proposed by Senator Neal: the committee agreed to move the transit‑related elements forward while removing the proposed change expanding the city's existing 60% AMI permit‑fee incentive to 120% AMI so the bill could proceed. The motion to amend and do pass the bill carried unanimously after that revision.

The committee approved an amendment to Senate Bill 380 addressing training and temporary registration for individuals practicing applied behavior analysis. Vice Chair Orangehaw proposed language allowing an applicant for registration as a registered behavior technician to begin supervised practice if they submit proof of a past background check "comparable to those required of home health aides, childcare professionals and teachers in Nevada ... which includes fingerprinting and the FBI clearance." Orangehaw acknowledged the Board of Applied Behavior Analysis did not support the amendment but said she would continue negotiating with the board.

Regional and Tahoe items: the committee approved Senate Bill 420, which authorizes establishment of business improvement districts (BIDs) in the Lake Tahoe Basin targeting transportation, housing and visitor‑activity impacts. It also approved Senate Bill 4 20 (the work session numbering in the transcript reflects SB 420) with an amendment that narrows who must be notified and sets limits on overlapping districts.

Other actions and consent calendars: the committee moved dozens of additional bills to the floor either individually or as part of two consent calendars. Those consent packages included bills on public‑employee matters, PERS delinquent contributions collection, state financial administration, fire protection, veterans services, and reorganizations of certain state boards and commissions. Several items that had stakeholder concerns (for example, SB 39 and SB 298 in the transcript) were removed from the consent calendar for separate consideration.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - SB 402 (restoration improvement districts): Amendment adopted to exclude parcels tied to a nonrestricted gaming license and to require a recorded 20‑year deed restriction; motion to amend and do pass carried. (Floor statement: Chair Flores.) - SB 28 (Las Vegas transit‑oriented development / affordable housing incentives): Committee accepted amendment to move forward transit‑oriented provisions but to not expand the city's permit‑fee incentive from 60% to 120% AMI; motion to amend and do pass carried unanimously. (Floor statement: Senator Rogich.) - SB 380 (behavior technician registration / autism training): Committee adopted sponsor's amendment adding background‑check language allowing supervised practice pending state registration; motion to amend and do pass carried unanimously. (Floor statement: Vice Chair Orangehaw.) - SB 420 (Tahoe BIDs / transportation and housing): Motion to amend and do pass carried; committee adopted language on notice and overlapping district limits. (Floor statement: Senator Daley.) - SB 443 (public works premium wages, contractors on utility infrastructure projects): Motion to amend and do pass carried; roll call recorded four ayes (Daley, Orenshaw, Flores, Neal) and two nays (Krasner, Ellison). (Floor statement: Senator Orenshaw.)

The committee chair closed the meeting after taking public comment none was queued on the call and reminded members there would be no meeting Monday and to watch agendas for midweek changes. Several senators said they would reserve the right to change their votes on the floor; the committee repeatedly noted amendments would continue to be negotiated before floor debate.

Ending note: The work session produced many technical and policy adjustments designed to reconcile stakeholder concerns. The committee's actions will send the amended bills to the full Senate where additional changes and votes are likely.