State bill died but lawmakers invited study of V&T commission during interim, commission staff says

Carson City — A proposal to direct a formal study of the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the Virginia & Truckee Railway died during the 2025 legislative session, but commission staff said lawmakers encouraged continuing the work in the interim.

Cameron Gresch, who presented the commission's work to legislators over the last year, told commissioners June 25 that “the bill did die during session,” but attributed the result to an abrupt statewide fiscal shortfall that left many bills with any fiscal note vulnerable. He said the bill’s sponsors and legislators still view the topic as worthy of attention.

Gresch said the original plan in Assembly Bill 32 (80th session) was for an interim committee to produce a formal study and recommendations that the legislature could use in 2027. The draft study plan in AB32 would have required an evaluation of the commission’s structure, duties and finances and then given the legislature three courses of action: reorganize the commission, improve its financial viability, or terminate it and resolve disposition of its assets.

Gresch said legislators asked whether the commission’s goals could be achieved through the normal interim process rather than by a stand‑alone study. He said the commission will pursue that route: working with interim committee staff to present background, answer questions and provide documentation so the combined assembly and senate interim committee on growth and infrastructure can prepare recommendations for the full legislature.

Commission members stressed that one of the most important open questions is ownership of the railway’s assets. “At some point we’re going to have to get at that question because that seems to be the thing that’s been nagging at us for the past several years,” Commissioner Mitchell said.

Gresch said he expects legislators remain sympathetic and that conversations in the interim could produce the same outcome as a formal study, though he cautioned the schedule could change if the governor calls a special session before the interim committees convene.

Commissioners discussed options for supporting the interim work, including providing historical documents, technical briefings and named commissioners to answer detailed questions. Gresch said the commission will also coordinate with the attorney general’s office if the interim committee asks for legal opinions about ownership and disposition of assets.

The commission did not take action on the item; commissioners agreed to wait until the first interim committee meeting to learn what additional materials or participation will be requested and to reconvene on next steps after that meeting.