Senate Finance Committee adopts conceptual amendment to SB4 shifting UNR Life Sciences funding to general fund and adding university deans to education panel
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Summary
The Senate Finance Committee approved a conceptual amendment to Senate Bill 4 that removes section 2, raises Clark County’s allocation to $8.1 million (bringing a section 6 total to $15,615,919), converts $68.5 million for the UNR Life Sciences building from GO bonds to a general fund appropriation, and adds three university deans to the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education; the motion passed by voice vote with at least two recorded no votes and no public comment.
The Nevada Senate Finance Committee adopted a conceptual amendment to Senate Bill 4 at its work session. The amendment would remove section 2, increase Clark County’s allocation to $8,100,000 (raising the section 6 general fund appropriation to $15,615,919), change financing for the UNR Life Sciences building from general obligation bonds to a general fund appropriation of $68,500,000, and add three university deans to the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education by amending NRS 385.910.
Wayne Thorley of the Legislative Counsel Bureau’s Fiscal Analysis Division summarized the governor’s office proposal to the committee, saying the changes were proposed by the Governor’s Finance Office and outlining the dollar amounts and statutory amendment. He identified Tiffany Greenemeyer (director, Governor’s Finance Office) as the presenter of the bill the previous day.
During floor discussion, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto Wynne (moved for adoption) said she supported most provisions of the bill and university participation on the education commission but objected to section 10 and therefore announced she would vote no: “I will be a no on this bill. I made it very clear that section 10, although I support every other section … I certainly support the university of participation in the education commission.” After the motion was seconded by Senator Cannizzaro, the chair called a voice vote. The roll call transcript records Senator Wynne’s declared no and the chair announcing “No from Senator Titus,” and the chair declared the motion passed. The transcript does not list a roll-call tally of all ayes or the full list of individual votes beyond the named no votes.
The amendment’s fiscal details as presented: Clark County’s allocation in section 6 subsection 2(a) would be increased to $8,100,000; the total general fund appropriation shown for section 6 subsection 1 would be $15,615,919. Section 13 would be amended to designate a general fund appropriation in place of general obligation bond financing for the University of Nevada, Reno Life Sciences building while maintaining the project amount at $68,500,000.
The amendment would also change state law by amending NRS 385.910 to add three new members to the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education: the deans of UNLV, UNR and Nevada State University. The transcript identifies the statutory reference by number; the committee did not provide additional statutory text in the work session record.
No members of the public offered comment in Carson City, Las Vegas or on the telephone line during the public comment period as reported by the public line operator. The chair said the committee would meet again the following day and then adjourned.
What happens next: The committee adopted the conceptual amendment at the work session; the transcript records this committee action. Any subsequent enactment, funding transfer, or implementation steps would depend on further legislative action and any concurrence required by other chambers or state processes.