Assembly Government Affairs committee advances nine bills in work session; two measures draw recorded no votes

The Nevada Assembly Committee on Government Affairs met in a work session and voted to advance nine Assembly bills, moving them out of committee with floor statements assigned to committee members.

The work session covered AB37, AB72, AB128, AB131, AB242, AB336, AB342, AB392 and AB433. Most motions to amend and do pass were approved unanimously; AB242 and AB342 each drew recorded no votes from individual assembly members but were carried by the committee.

Committee Policy Analyst Alex Trostoff summarized AB37 as making changes relating to housing, including revisions to data required for the Statewide Low Income Housing Database, adjustments to income-tier definitions (including a new 30% of median gross household income tier), renaming a housing division position to housing liaison, and changes to use of funds and reporting deadlines. Christine Hess of the Housing Division proposed an amendment to add certain families with children to eligible uses of funds. Vice Chair Winn moved to amend and do pass AB37; Assembly Member Carter seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The floor statement was assigned to Vice Chair Winn.

Alex Strausdorf summarized AB72, which would authorize the Secretary of State to adopt a code of professional responsibility for notaries public, establish related sanctions and confidentiality provisions, and add a tiered bond structure for licensed document preparers. The committee adopted proposed amendments from the Nevada Land Title Association and the Secretary of State. Vice Chair Winn moved to amend and do pass; Assembly Member Karas seconded. The motion carried unanimously; the floor statement was assigned to Assembly Member Carter.

AB128, which would create (and as amended, replace the original language with) a public records task force in the Executive Department, was moved to amend and do pass by Assembly Member Winn with a second from Assembly Member Carter. Multiple members said they would vote yes while reserving the right to change their position; the motion passed unanimously. The floor statement was assigned to Assembly Member Torres Fossett.

AB131 was amended to exempt an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) from taxation if it meets certain criteria and to limit the exemption to one ADU per parcel; the amendment also modifies taxable-value calculation and the effective date. Vice Chair Winn moved and Assembly Member De Silva seconded the motion to amend and do pass AB131. The motion passed unanimously; the floor statement was assigned to Assembly Member Jackson.

AB242 would require the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council (in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) to establish by regulation a mitigation program for sagebrush ecosystems and sets program requirements. An amendment removed certain prescriptive requirements and instead required council steps related to debit/credit projects. Assembly Member DeLong moved to amend and do pass; Assembly Member Karas seconded. Assembly Member Golding recorded a “no” vote, citing reservations that science was not clearly driving decisions; Assembly Member Jackson also recorded a “no.” The motion carried and the floor statement was assigned to Assembly Member DeLong.

AB336 revises state purchasing preferences to allow combining a Nevada-based business preference with a local veteran-owned-business preference for a combined 10% preference when both apply. Vice Chair Winn moved and Assembly Member Carter seconded the motion to do pass AB336. The motion carried unanimously. The floor assignment was given to Assembly Member Flanagan.

AB342 designates March as Women Veterans History Month and requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging observance. Assembly Member Hunt moved and Assembly Member De Silva seconded the motion to do pass AB342. Assembly Members Salonge and Edgeworth recorded nays. The motion carried; the floor statement was assigned to Assembly Member Hunt.

AB392 revises provisions regarding interlocal agreements and contracts with tribal governments, including changing a requirement that a county governing body must engage in good-faith discussions with a tribal government to an authorization rather than a mandate and adding a definition of good faith. Vice Chair Winn moved and Assembly Member Carter seconded the motion to amend and do pass AB392. The motion carried unanimously; the floor statement was assigned to Assembly Member Carter.

AB433 (listed as Assembly Bill 4 33 in the record) would create the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Peace Officer Wellness (as amended, renamed the Purple Ribbon Task Force) to review policies on mental and physical wellness for peace officers and firefighters, prescribe membership duties, and require a written report to the Assembly and Senate standing committees. Vice Chair Winn moved and Assembly Member Hunt seconded the motion to amend and do pass AB433. The motion carried unanimously; the floor statement was assigned to Assembly Member Torres Fossett.

Votes at a glance: the committee moved each bill forward; where specific no votes were recorded in the transcript they are noted above. Floor statement assignments were made for each measure.

What’s next: The committee closed the work session and proceeded to a hearing on Assembly Bill 547 (public employment), which was heard following the work session.