Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Rush of bills to be introduced Monday in Legislature

CARSON CITY – Hundreds of bills are expected to be introduced in the Nevada Legislature on Monday, the last day that individual lawmakers can sponsor bills.

The Senate and Assembly normally hold one floor session a day, but legislative leaders are telling members to be prepared for multiple meetings and not to make dinner plans. Monday will mark the 43rd day of the 120-day session.

There have been 1,287 requests for bills and resolutions. So far the Assembly has received 321 bills and the Senate has 278 bills.

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said he expects about 100 in the Senate. More than that are expected in the Assembly.

Full committees will still be able to introduce bills after individual lawmakers no longer can.

Both the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee have completed hearing major agency budgets of Gov. Brian Sandoval. The subcommittees have reviewed about 85 percent of the budgets on their agenda.

Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, said her Ways and Means Committee has been starting earlier and taking more public testimony on the budget. “It’s been a challenge,” she said.

She said she expects her committee to start approving budgets of state agencies in a couple of weeks. Horsford said although budget reviews are complete, there is still a lot of work to be done.

On Monday, hundreds of students from UNLV and UNR will arrive in Carson City to plead with lawmakers to restore funds to the budgets of the university system. Lawmakers are planning for overflow crowds in committee rooms for the hearing to start at 8 a.m.

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