LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Up against a Friday deadline for bills to be passed out of committee, Nevada lawmakers are working this week to move mountains of legislation in Carson City.
Work sessions on Thursday and Friday will determine the fate of bills that don't qualify for exemptions from the April 11 deadline. Generally, bills that contain an appropriation are exempt.
The Legislature doesn't have its hands tied as the deadline approaches. Bills that don't pass can be revived as an amendment to another bill. The session is scheduled to end on June 2, but even then, there could be a special session for unfinished business.
Sometimes things move quickly on deadline, such as the Senate's fast turnaround of Senate Bill 304 (SB304), which received its first hearing on Wednesday and was passed by the Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure. Republican Sen. Jeff Stone's bill would make it easier to charge a driver with vehicular homicide, removing a limitation that only allowed the charge after three previous convictions.
Some other bills that you have heard about in our coverage of the Legislature have passed, and there will be a lot more by the end of the day Friday. Here's a sampling of some bills that have moved ahead of Friday's deadline:
GHOST KITCHENS: Assembly Bill 116 (AB116) takes aim at unscrupulous businesses that usurp well known brands and sell restaurant meals to customers who think they are getting the real thing. AB116 was approved in a work session on Wednesday in the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor. It had some important changes, adding a fine of $100 per order for the ghost kitchen, and a fine of $500 per day for the platform — think of DoorDash or Uber Eats — that facilitates the deceptive practice. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Assem. Selena Torres-Fossett.
SELLING DOGS AND CATS: AB487 would stop retail stores from selling dogs and cats, putting an end to a long-standing practice. Advocates say the ban will help stop animal abuse, consumer fraud and practices that put animals' health in danger. With shelters overflowing with dogs and cats, advocates are trying to combat puppy mills from flourishing. The bill passed on Wednesday in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
TRAFFIC TICKETS: SB359 contains changes to current laws that decriminalized minor traffic tickets. A flurry of amendments came as the bill was heard, and changes are likely to continue as the bill moves forward after passing Wednesday in a work session of the Senate Growth and Infrastructure committee. The bill seeks to streamline procedures that are making it hard for courts to efficiently handle challenges to traffic tickets. Democratic Sen. Melanie Scheible sponsored the bill.
OPEN ENROLLMENT: AB533, would allow parents to enroll their children in any school that has the room through a lottery system. Parents would have to apply first and if they're denied, there would be a mechanism where they could appeal the decision. Torres-Fossett sponsored the bill, which passed out of a work session in the Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday. The Clark County School District opposes the bill.
ENGLISH LEARNERS: AB335 is another bill sponsored by Torres-Fossett passed out of an Assembly Education Committee work session a week ago on April 3. It's aimed at improving education for students who are learning English, giving them an extra year to complete high school and requiring administrators to create a plan to close gaps in achievement levels.
NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS: SB293 allows UNLV and UNR to take a more active role in the NIL world, handling contracts directly with student-athletes. Democratic Sen. Roberta Lange sponsored the bill, which was approved in the Senate Education Committee on Monday.
DUI LAW UPDATE: SB309 adds fentanyl to the list of substances covered in Nevada's DUI laws, and would require a 20-day jail term for a subsequent offense — double the 10 days under current law. Language in the bill that would have removed a requirement for the person who conducted the blood draw to appear in court was debated as the bill was heard on Wednesday, but was ultimately removed and the bill passed in a Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure work session. Republican Sen. John Steinbeck sponsored the bill.
HANDICAP PARKING: SB113, another bill sponsored by Steinbeck, passed Wednesday in the Senate Growth and Infrastructure Committee. The bill allows an occupational therapist or physical therapist to approve the issuance of a handicap placard. Previously, only a licensed physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse could OK a placard from the DMV.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS: AB81 would end the "spring forward/fall back" routine that many people despise, opting out of the whole Daylight Savings Time dance. If adopted, Nevada would remain on standard time for the entire year. Democratic Assem. Selena La Rue Hatch sponsored the bill, which was approved in a work session on Monday, March 1.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.