Assembly Bill 277
Revises provisions governing insurance.
Legislative Summary: AB 277 addresses insurance carriers and obligations for reporting in cases of accidents and injuries. Under the original provisions of AB 277, personal information from insurance policies would be required to be disclosed at the request of attorneys including, policy limits, medical records and bills from a claimant’s health care provider.
AB 277 caused concerns for insurance providers and for the privacy of policyholders in that personal information such as addresses and other personal identification information would be included in the broad scope of this bill as written.
The Chamber was opposed to AB 277 as written due to privacy concerns. The bill has since been amended to address concerns from the Chamber and others regarding the disclosure of personal information.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor
Position: Concerns Mitigated
Assembly Bill 356
Makes various changes relating to the conservation of water.
Legislative Summary: AB 356 codifies a proposal by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to incentivize the removal of non-functional turf as a water conservation measure. The proposal would require the removal of unused turf, informally defined by SNWA representatives as “grass that never gets stepped on except when it’s mowed” most recognizably, turf existing in traffic medians.
While the Chamber was neutral on the bill as originally introduced, it is now in support of the bill because of the SNWA’s non-functional turf removal proposal as a water conservation measure. This measure will have concrete benefits without causing cost increases on end users. The previous provisions dealing with water rights transfers have been amended to a study of the issue.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Ways and Means
Position: Support
Assembly Bill 410
Revises provisions relating to public works.
Legislative Summary: AB 410 addresses the requirements for Construction Managers at Risk (CMARs) when bidding on public works projects with public bodies. As originally written, AB 410 would prohibit CMARs from bidding on public works contracts if they have previously been employed as a CMAR on a public works contract within 5 years of the date such a contract is advertised. Additionally, AB 410 removes time limits for which a public body may enter into a contract with a CMAR.
The Chamber was opposed to AB 410 because these provisions would dramatically increase the difficulty of independent contractors qualified to operate as CMARs to bid on and win public works contracts while reducing the competition within the marketplace for qualified individuals. With amendments reducing the timeframe stipulated to 4 years, the Chamber’s concerns have been mitigated and removed its opposition to the bill.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Government Affairs
Position: Concerns Mitigated
Assembly Bill 435
Revises provisions governing the commerce tax.
Legislative Summary: AB 435 would clarify that Nevada’s Commerce Tax would not apply to an exhibition, trade show, industry, corporate meeting or similar event, including an organizer, manager or sponsor of such an event or an exhibitor.
The Chamber is in support of AB 435 as it would provide clarity to the original intent of the Commerce Tax as it applies to trade shows and events from the 2015 Legislative Session,
This clarification to Nevada’s tax law is important to supporting the tourism and convention industry as part of our economic recovery.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Revenue and Economic Development
Position: Support
Senate Bill 172
Revises Various Provisions Relating to Education.
Legislative Summary: SB 172 streamlines the access of K-12 education to higher education and the workforce pipeline. As proposed, this bill makes the dual credit program more accessible for high school students to enroll in a dual credit course at an approved community college, state college, or university. Section 5 eliminates requirements that entail students to apply for the dual credit course, wait for its approval or denial, and must have completed a prerequisite for the course.
The Chamber supports SB 172 as it provides high school students greater accessibility to receive dual credit to better prepare them for higher education and our future workforce.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Moises Denis
Position: Support
Senate Bill 268
Revises provisions relating to state financial administration.
Legislative Summary: SB 268 addresses the financial administration of that state. This bill would require the Fiscal Analysis Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, to the extent possible given funding constraints, to conduct a biennial budget stress test and publish the results.
Routine stress tests of the State budget are likely to show potential pain points and areas of concern that may emerge in future times of budget difficulty or revenue shortfall, allowing for some proactive fiscal planning.
The Chamber believes that proactive fiscal planning may help the State in future downturns, and that routine stress testing of the budget is a crucial component. The Chamber is in support of SB 268.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Dallas Harris
Position: Support
Senate Bill 310
Makes an appropriation to the Nevada System of Higher Education to enable the College of Southern Nevada to assist and carry out the NV Grow Program.
Legislative Summary: This bill extends the appropriation for the Nevada Grow program. The Nevada Grow program provides small businesses with data-driven metrics to market their brand both physically and digitally with a history of high returns on investment.
The Chamber has supported appropriations to the program since its inception because it helps minority-owned businesses.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Dina Neal
Position: Support
Senate Bill 430
Revises provisions governing the Nevada State Infrastructure Bank.
Legislative Summary: SB 430 would revise provisions governing the establishment of the Nevada Infrastructure Bank. The bill would revise provisions governing eligibility to receive loans and other financial assistance from the Bank. The bill as introduced would expand the types of projects for which financial assistance from the Bank is available. Finally, SB 430 would revise provisions governing the membership, duties, and powers of the Board of Directors of the Bank
The Chamber has a long legacy of supporting infrastructure investment projects in our state because of the impactful economic benefits associated with these types of projects. The Chamber believes that by investing in the Infrastructure Bank and making it a strategic priority of the state, Nevada will be able to better plan for the future and build the infrastructure necessary to diversify the economy and create jobs.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure
Position: Support
Senate Bill 434
Makes an appropriation to the Office of Finance in the Office of the Governor for the construction of a medical school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Legislative Summary: SB 434 would allocate $25 million towards the construction of the medical education building at UNLV. The construction of the building will help expand the economy, create good and sustainable jobs, and elevate the quality of life in Southern Nevada.
The Chamber is in support of SB 434. Since its creation in 2015, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV has been granted full accreditation and all the students in the charter class were selected for residency programs. The medical school has also proven to be an important partner in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regarding the economic and employment impact, it is estimated that the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine will generate 8,000 new jobs by 2030. It is expected to have a $1.2 billion impact in the next decade. It also will contribute through health care research, adding up to $50 million in annual research funding, directly supporting UNLV’s Carnegie R1 status.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senate Committee on Finance
Position: Support
