Nevada lawmakers hear patchwork progress on AB 96: tree giveaways, inventories and cooling centers
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Summary
Local officials told the committee they are implementing Assembly Bill 96 through tree giveaways, inventories and cooling‑center activation, but data gaps, funding limits and variable operating hours mean vulnerable neighborhoods remain a priority for follow‑up.
The joint interim standing committee on government affairs on Tuesday heard officials from Clark County and the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas describe local efforts to implement Assembly Bill 96, the 2025 legislation addressing urban heat mitigation.
Chair Flores opened the session and invited local jurisdictions to report; Clark County planner Todd Mason told the committee the county has formed a regional implementation work group and is advancing cool‑building practices, shaded surfaces and green infrastructure. "Ultimately, we hope to give away, more than 6,800 trees to residents in Clark County," Mason said, and he noted the county recently reactivated community cooling stations and is working to expand public access to drinking water as part of the AB 96 response.
Why it matters: Committee members repeatedly pressed jurisdictions for quantifiable follow‑up — specifically, where trees were planted and whether they survived — because tree planting is a long‑term strategy while residents face immediate heat risk. Senator Neal asked for an overlay of tree giveaway locations against the Regional Transportation Commission's 2022 heat map and for survival rates of earlier giveaways. Mason said he did not have the granular survival data on hand but would seek it for the committee.
City of Las Vegas urban‑forestry manager Marco Velada described a city inventory and management plan adopted in December 2025 and a public TreeKeeper database. "We have more than 40,000 trees that were already planted," Velada said, and he described an urban‑canopy goal of 60,000 trees by 2050 and recent amendments to municipal code to raise tree‑planting standards. Velada told the committee the inventory and planning contract with Davie Resource Group cost about $400,000 and that TreeKeeper stores attributes such as planting dates, enabling the city to approximate tree age and condition.
Henderson staff said they are incorporating AB 96 into an update to the Henderson Strong comprehensive plan, with a draft expected in summer 2026. Anna Marie Smith and Tori Jackson described targeted outreach in vulnerable neighborhoods and a recent grassroots giveaway of 111 trees in the Pittman area, the result of door‑to‑door outreach intended to boost survivability.
North Las Vegas director Doug Geild and municipal forester Eddie Rodriguez told the committee their most recent inventory counts 14,760 public trees and showed a multi‑year planting program. Rodriguez said a regional canopy study in 2022 estimated about 3% canopy but North Las Vegas's recent local inventory measured 2.2% and prompted a shift toward heat‑tolerant tree species. He said the city received a $1,000,000 grant that was placed on hold and later partially reinstated, with about $500,000 still outstanding; the grant funding period ends this year and the city is seeking partner funding and internal allocations to continue plantings.
Committee members also questioned operational responses that do not rely on tree canopy. Assemblymember Wynne and others pressed jurisdictions on cooling‑center hours, noting that heat is not limited to business hours. Officials said hours vary by facility and operator: some homeless‑service centers operate 24/7, many libraries serve as cooling centers, and jurisdictions are exploring partnerships with nonprofits and faith‑based groups to extend coverage during extreme heat events. Tori Jackson said the All‑in Clark County Regional Climate Collaborative and the Desert Research Institute's heat working group meet regularly to study governance and best practices for cooling centers.
Public health advocates and volunteers attending public comment said tree removal and limited cooling access have immediate consequences. Tommy Love of The People's Medic and nurse practitioner Jasmine Lazaro said two people required emergency transport after a recent protest near the federal courthouse where large trees had been removed days earlier; Love called the removals a "public health failure." The Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition asked the committee to prioritize equity when allocating trees and cooling services.
What the committee asked for next: multiple members requested detailed, geolocated data on prior giveaways, tree survivability, the scope and expiration of grant funding, and an inventory of which cooling centers can be activated and when. Officials pledged to return with follow‑up materials. The committee recessed after the presentations with plans to continue AB 96 implementation oversight at a future meeting.
