The Assembly Ways and Means Committee heard testimony supporting Assembly Bill 475, a proposal to appropriate $18 million to Clark County and $7 million to the City of Reno to fund eviction‑diversion programs.

Assemblymember Danielle Monroe Moreno, sponsor of the bill, said the measure “makes appropriations to Clark County and the City of Reno for eviction diversion programs,” noting statewide demand for eviction support.

Jonathan Norman of the Nevada Coalition of Legal Service Providers detailed the outcomes from earlier appropriations. He said Las Vegas Justice Court’s diversion program helped 1,928 households avoid eviction — with an 81 percent avoidance rate for program participants — and reduced appointment no‑show rates from 65 percent to 25 percent. Norman also said Reno’s program assisted 94 households with an 80 percent retention rate and that 72 percent of those households remained in the same unit 90 days later.

Judges who run housing courts described program mechanics and impacts. Kendra Burchy, a justice of the peace who presides over Reno Justice Court’s housing court, said the program provides expedited rental assistance coordinated with supportive services and estimated “housing court…will require at least $1,000,000 annually in rental assistance to sustain.” Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Goody said the court distributed $5,553,824.80 in rental assistance since December 2023, sent payments directly to landlords, and achieved a 77 percent eviction‑avoidance rate for participants.

Local governments and housing providers urged passage. Joanna Jacob of Clark County described county experience deploying CARES and ARPA funds and said Clark County’s eviction prevention programs have served 2,400 households with separate fixed‑income programs; the county has directed rental assistance to households across multiple cities in the region. Nick Zaccone from the City of Reno and representatives from Washoe County, the City of Sparks, and the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority spoke in support.

The bill includes reporting and timeline provisions. Section 1 appropriates $18,000,000 to Clark County, allows up to 10 percent for administrative costs, requires reporting of expenditures to the Interim Finance Committee, and requires funds to be committed and spent with reversion to the general fund by September 2027. Section 2 appropriates $7,000,000 to Reno and (by amendment) explicitly requires Reno’s program to serve Sparks and unincorporated Washoe County.

Why it matters: Committee testimony emphasized the programs’ role in preventing homelessness and noted that eviction diversion is often less costly than sheltering or later homelessness services. Sponsors requested continued legislative support to expand eligibility beyond elderly and disabled households to families with young children.

The hearing closed without a committee vote; sponsors and presenters offered to provide additional data if the committee requested it.