Newly introduced state bills may bring reduced fees for owners of vehicles and businesses

The Associated Press

Monday, March 16, 2015 | 4:42 p.m.

CARSON CITY — A Democratic assemblyman hopes to give the middle class a break by lowering vehicle registration fees, wants to give business owners a break by getting rid of the annual $100 license fee.

Democratic Assemblyman Richard Carrillo is sponsoring AB326, which was introduced in the Nevada Assembly on Monday.

The measure would speed up the depreciation timeline for cars for the purpose of determining the governmental services tax rate, which is a major component of vehicle registration fees.

Carrillo said Nevada vehicle registration rates are exorbitant, and said his bill would help give the middle class a break.

The concept was outlined in the Nevada Blueprint, a document released last week that laid out Democratic priorities.

The governmental services tax helps supply the highway fund and pay for infrastructure projects. Carrillo said shortfalls there needed to be addressed eventually, but said the priority now should be helping the middle class.

A Nevada assemblyman is proposing a bill that would exempt most state businesses from paying an annual license fee.

Republican Assemblyman Jim Wheeler is sponsoring AB 323, which was introduced in the Assembly on Monday. The bill removes the current $100 fee that businesses annually pay when registering with the state.

Wheeler's bill comes two days before Gov. Brian Sandoval is scheduled to address the Legislature on a substantial increase of business license fees that would raise $437 million primarily to help pay for added K-12 funding.

Sandoval's plan would have businesses pay a fee based on their industry and gross receipts.

Wheeler said he wanted to start a conversation about the fee and said counties should implement fees, not the state.