Work session: Assembly committee advances multiple election and administration measures

The Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections on March 19, 2025, voted to introduce or recommend passage for a package of measures ranging from a federal-request joint resolution to updates in how local clerks distribute ballots.

The work session produced formal committee actions on a series of items, including Assembly Joint Resolutions 6 and 7 and Assembly Bills 148, 256, 261, 262, 287 and 348. Committee members also approved the introduction of BDR 24570 so it may enter the legislative bill process.

Why it matters: The committee’s “do pass” recommendations move those measures to the next stage of the Legislature’s process or put a proposal into the formal bill pipeline. Several items affect how elections are conducted or how compensation and other legislative-administration matters are set, including a proposed constitutional amendment on salary-setting by a citizens commission.

Key actions and formal outcomes

- BDR 24570 — Motion to introduce BDR 24-5-70 (revising provisions relating to elections) — Motion carried; the measure was introduced so it may become a bill and enter committee hearings. (Transcript introduction: committee roll-call and BDR introduction, first related remarks at timecode ~553.41; introduction motion concluded ~611.)

- Assembly Joint Resolution 6 (AJR 6) — Urges Congress to apply the Social Security Fairness Act retroactively to December 2013 forward. Motion to do pass AJR 6 carried; recorded no votes from Assemblymembers Hibbets (Hibbits), Cole, Edgeworth and Dickman. (AJR 6 discussion and vote begin ~651.88; vote and assignment of floor statement conclude ~768.38.)

- Assembly Joint Resolution 7 (AJR 7) — Proposes Nevada Constitutional amendment to create a citizens commission on compensation for select statewide officers and legislators, includes filing schedules and public-meeting requirements. Motion to amend and do pass AJR 7 carried; floor statement assigned to Assemblymember Watts. (Presentation begins ~790.13; motion and vote recorded ~930–956.)

- Assembly Bill 148 (AB 148) — Requires city and county clerks to distribute sample ballots within a specified window before mail ballots are mailed; amendment proposed to set a distribution window “not earlier than the fifth Monday and not later than the fourth Monday” before an election. Motion to amend and do pass AB 148 carried; floor statement assigned to Assemblymember Hafen. (Presentation and amendment ~960.58–1008.01; motion and vote ~1008–1034.)

- Assembly Bill 256 (AB 256) — Directs creation of a Regional Rail Transit Advisory Working Group to study regional rail transit and produce an actionable plan. Motion to amend and do pass AB 256 carried; floor statement assigned to Assemblymember LaRue Hatch. (Presentation and amendment ~1038.53–1166.20; motion and vote ~1166–1186.)

- Assembly Bill 261 (AB 261) — Revises procedures for clerks to resolve signature questions and places some notice-mailing duties with the Secretary of State for automatic voter-registration transactions. Motion to do pass AB 261 carried; recorded no votes from Assemblymembers Hibbets, Cole, Edgeworth and Dittney. (Presentation begins ~1192.49; vote recorded ~1254–1279.)

- Assembly Bill 262 (AB 262) — Authorizes certain election officers to serve as unpaid volunteers and adjusts appointment rules for some special election officers; also allows persons convicted of certain felonies to be employed by a voter-registration agency under specified conditions. Motion to do pass AB 262 carried; recorded no votes from Assemblymembers Hibbets, Cole, Edgeworth and Dickman. (Presentation begins ~1301.67; vote recorded ~1359.69–1392.36.)

- Assembly Bill 287 (AB 287) — Revises grounds and thresholds for automatic or requested recounts for offices and ballot questions; committee considered two amendments (Secretary of State technical language and alignment of thresholds). Motion to amend and do pass AB 287 carried; floor statement assigned to Vice Chair Gonzales. (Presentation ~1402.68–1521.13; motion and vote ~1535–1552.)

- Assembly Bill 348 (AB 348) — Requires review of the legislator retirement system by an interim retirement committee and abolishes the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation; motion to do pass AB 348 carried. (Presentation and discussion ~1556.15–1646.98; motion and vote ~1627.76–1646.98.)

What committee members asked and noted: Committee staff delivered nonpartisan summaries and proposed amendments. Multiple members made or seconded motions (for example, Assemblymember Monroe Moreno, Assemblymember Hategui, Vice Chair Gonzales and others). Several bills recorded four consistent dissenting votes (Assemblymembers Hibbets/Hibbits, Cole, Edgeworth, and Dickman) on particular election-administration measures.

Next steps: The committee assigned floor statements for each successful “do pass” item so sponsors may carry the measure to the Assembly floor. For constitutional amendments (for example, AJR 7), committee staff reminded members these proposals must pass two successive legislatures and then be approved by voters to become effective.

Ending note: The committee moved a significant slate of election and administrative measures forward in a single work session; several drew repeated, small-number opposition votes but otherwise were recommended to advance.