Nevada Assembly refers AJR 8 proposing business court to judiciary, advances multiple bills to committees

CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Assembly on Feb. 18, 2025, moved a package of procedural items and referred a constitutional amendment proposal and multiple bills to committee, the chamber record shows.

Assembly Joint Resolution 8, described during the morning session as a proposal to amend the Nevada Constitution to establish a business court, was moved to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary after a motion on the floor. “I move that assembly joint resolution 8 be moved to your committee on judiciary,” Assembly member Miller said when making the referral motion; the motion carried by voice vote.

The Fiscal Analysis Division also read notices under Joint Standing Rule 14.6 announcing exemptions for several bills. “The fiscal analysis division pursuant to joint standing rule 14.6 has determined the exemption of assembly bill number 257,” a statement attributed to Sarah Kaufman of the Fiscal Analysis Division said on the record; the division later announced eligibility-for-exemption determinations for Assembly Bills 238, 250 and 254.

The chamber approved standard procedural motions by voice vote during the morning session. Assembly member Howdighi moved to suspend reading of the journal and authorize the speaker and chief clerk to make corrections; the motion carried. Howdighi also moved that the names on the legislature’s press accreditation list be accepted and that accredited reporters be assigned space at the press table; that motion carried as well.

Several newly introduced Assembly bills were referred to standing committees by motion and voice vote: Assembly Bill 259, introduced by Assembly member Considine, was referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor; Assembly Bill 260, introduced by Assembly members Grama and Dickman et al. and Senator Hansen, was referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services; Assembly Bill 261, introduced by the Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections, and Assembly Bill 262, introduced by that committee, were both referred to the Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections.

Other floor business included representatives from community organizations being recognized during remarks from the floor and scheduling announcements for events and guest speakers later in the day. The clerk recorded 41 members present and one absent excused, which the speaker noted constituted a quorum.

The Assembly recessed for the afternoon at the time and place announced on the floor; the motion to recess until 4:45 p.m. also carried by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to suspend reading of the journal and authorize speaker and chief clerk to make corrections — Mover: Assembly member Howdighi; Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion to accept press accreditation list dated Feb. 9, 2025, and assign space at the press table — Mover: Assembly member Howdighi; Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Assembly Joint Resolution 8 (proposes amendment to the Nevada Constitution to establish a business court) — Mover to refer: Assembly member Miller; Referred to: Committee on Judiciary; Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Notice of exemption under Joint Standing Rule 14.6 for Assembly Bill 257 — Announced by: Sarah Kaufman, Fiscal Analysis Division. - Eligibility-for-exemption determinations under Joint Standing Rule 14.6 for Assembly Bills 238, 250 and 254 — Announced by: Sarah Kaufman, Fiscal Analysis Division. - Assembly Bill 259 (establishes provisions governing prescription drugs) — Introduced by: Assembly member Considine; Referred to: Committee on Commerce and Labor; Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Assembly Bill 260 (revisions relating to abortion) — Introduced by: Assembly members Grama, Dickman et al., and Senator Hansen; Referred to: Committee on Health and Human Services; Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Assembly Bill 261 (provisions relating to voter registration) — Introduced by: Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections; Referred to: Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections; Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Assembly Bill 262 (revises provisions relating to elections) — Introduced by: Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections; Referred to: Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections; Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion to recess until 4:45 p.m. — Mover: Assembly member Howdighi; Outcome: approved (voice vote).

What this means

Referrals send measures to the committees charged with detailed review and hearings; a referral does not indicate committee approval or final legislative action. The announced fiscal-exemption determinations under Joint Standing Rule 14.6 indicate the Fiscal Analysis Division’s preliminary classification for certain bills, which affects workflow and committee processing but does not itself change a bill’s substantive content.

The Assembly returned to session at the time scheduled later in the day for additional floor business and guest addresses, including a planned address by U.S. Representative Steven Horsford.