Assembly committee considers bill to allow paid events and alcohol at Nevada Capitol

Assemblymember Venise Karas, sponsor of Assembly Bill 115, told the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs that the bill would authorize the State Public Works Division, in coordination with the Nevada State Museum director, to rent or lease rooms in the Capitol Building for events and permit the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages during those events.

Karas said the bill directs that fees charged for events be deposited in the state treasury and accounted for in the state general fund, with any profit used only for maintenance of the Capitol Building. She described the measure as a way to increase public use of the Capitol’s historic spaces while creating a funding stream to preserve those spaces.

AB115 would create an exception to NRS 331.010 to allow alcohol to be served at permitted events in the Capitol Building. Karas told the committee the proposal is intended to allow public access — for example, small weddings or community events — and is not limited to elected officials. “This is a public building. The Capitol is a public building. It will be open to the entire public,” Karas said.

Committee members asked several operational questions. Karas said fees would first cover event-related costs such as additional legislative police and cleaning; funds in excess of those expenses would go to maintenance. In response to a question from Assemblymember DeLong about whether receipts or net profit would be retained, Karas said the intent is that fees collected would cover expenses and amounts above those costs would support building preservation. Assemblymember Kasama noted that previously private uses required the governor’s special permission; Karas confirmed the bill aims to enable advance planning rather than ad hoc approvals.

Karas said the bill, as drafted, applies specifically to the Capitol Building; she said the new legislative building in Las Vegas is not included in AB115 but she would consider amendments to add other buildings.

Testimony in support came from Taylor Avery, manager of political affairs for the Vegas Chamber, who said the chamber supports public access to historically meaningful public buildings and “appreciates the bill’s provision requiring those funds to go towards the maintenance of the capital building.” There was no testimony recorded in opposition or neutral on the record.

The committee closed the hearing on AB115 after the sponsor’s final remarks and moved on to other measures.