2-Minute Preview: Lawmakers slated for packed day of hearings as they await budget projections

Nevada's Economic Forum, which will predict how much revenue lawmakers have to work with in the final stretch of the session, will be the focal point in Carson City on Wednesday.
But that doesn't mean lawmakers are slowing down elsewhere in the building. They'll review bills loosening marijuana advertising restrictions, opposing a citizenship question on the 2020 Census and preventing marriage under the age of 18, among other things.
For more information on the status of bills working their way through the Legislature, check out The Nevada Independent's bill tracker. And for the bills in committee today, check out the Legislature's website for committee times and links to watch live committee meetings and floor sessions.
Here is what to watch for o n Wednesday at the Legislature:
Budget closings
A joint Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee will review budgets for child welfare agencies, as well as juvenile justice and youth parole accounts.
A separate subcommittee will close budgets on the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange and the Public Employees' Benefits Program.
Both subcommittees meet at 8 a.m.
SB328: Prohibiting obscene, threatening or annoying electronic communications
This bill, which is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro, would extend the current law prohibiting obscene, threatening or annoying communications over a telephone call to communication made with an electronic device.
The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate on April 16.
It's up for a hearing in the Assembly Judiciary Committee at 8 a.m.
AB266: Sealing summary evictions
Sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, this bill would allow for the automatic sealing of records related to an eviction if a court denies or dismisses a charge or action for summary eviction.
The bill also requires the sealing of records to occur within 10 judicial days after a court order is entered. It passed unanimously out of the Assembly on April 17.
It's up for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 8 a.m.
AB139: Raising marriage age to 18
If approved, this bill would remove all current exemptions in state law allowing individuals as young as 13 to marry with court permission and instead raise the minimum marriage age to 18.
The bill, which is sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, passed out of the Assembly on a 32-8 vote on April 16.
It's scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 8 a.m.
AJR6: No citizenship question in the 2020 Census
Lawmakers on the Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee will consider a resolution that urges the federal government not to include a question about a person's citizenship status on the 2020 Census. The measure passed 33-8 in a vote in the Assembly.
Proponents say asking about a person's legal status will discourage some Nevada residents from participating out of fear they'll face immigration enforcement. The state stands to lose millions in federal dollars if its population is undercounted.
The committee meets upon the adjournment of Senate Commerce and Labor, Government Affairs and Education committees.
AB259: Single-party races decided in general election
Members of the Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee will discuss AB259, which would allow races that only include candidates from one party to be decided in the general election rather than the primary.
Under the current system, an Assembly race that only attracts Democratic candidates would be settled in the primary and Republican voters in the district would have no choices on the general election. The bill would at least allow people registered with other parties the option to choose between two Democrats.
The committee meets upon the adjournment of Senate Commerce and Labor, Government Affairs and Education committees.
AB78: Abolishes the Achievement School District
Lawmakers will discuss AB78, which abolishes the controversial Achievement School District through which underperforming traditional schools are converted to charter schools. The bill passed unanimously in the Assembly.
The program was born in 2015 and now includes four schools, which would revert to the jurisdiction of the State Public Charter School Authority.
The bill is up for discussion in the Senate Education Committee, which meets at 1 p.m.
AB239: Opioid clarification bill
Up in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, AB239 would make changes to an opioid-prescribing law passed by the Legislature in 2017 that drew significant concerns from the physician community.
The legislation would allow providers discretion when writing prescriptions for controlled substances to treat acute pain beyond certain existing limitations when they determine doing so is medically necessary, among other changes.
It will be heard at 1:30 p.m.
AB141: Pharmacy benefit manager gag rules
Also up in Senate Commerce and Labor is AB141, a bill sponsored by Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Hardy would put additional limitations on the gag rules that pharmacy benefit managers can put into their contracts with pharmacies. The overall goal of the legislation is to allow pharmacists to share additional information with patients about the most cost-effective way of purchasing a drug.
It will be heard at 1:30 p.m.
AB164: Marijuana advertising
Lawmakers will consider AB164, which removes requirements that marijuana businesses get pre-approval of their logos or advertising materials.
It also extends the period of validity for a marijuana agent card — obtained by those who work in the industry — from one year to two years and expands the grounds on which the card can be revoked.
The bill is up for a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee at 4 p.m.
AB170: Requiring insurers to provide navigator phone number to the Office for Consumer Health Assistance
This bill, sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel, requires health insurance companies to provide the phone number to the state Office for Consumer Health Assistance of a case manager, navigator or facilitator who can help connect patients with a covered provider. The legislation initially proposed requiring insurers to cover out-of-network doctor visits at no additional cost if no in-network provider was immediately accessible but was scaled back following insurer concerns.
The bill is up for a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee at 4 p.m.
AB85: Work session on changes to involuntary mental health holds
Another bill up in Senate Health and Human Services committee is AB85, which attempts to standardize the procedure used for involuntary mental health holds, known as Legal 2000s.
Sponsored by the Northern Nevada Regional Behavioral Health Policy Board, the bill would start the clock for a 72-hour mental health hold at the time an application for emergency admission is filed, clarifying the existing procedure. It would also change the time frame under which a petition for involuntary court-ordered admission to a mental health facility is ordered.
The bill is up for a vote at 4 p.m.
SB69: Cybersecurity and public safety
Sponsored by the Department of Public Safety, SB69 would make various changes to the state's emergency management system such as requiring additional emergency reporting requirements for resort hotels and local government and allows the governor to call on the state's National Guard in case of a "serious" cyber attack.
The bill also standardizes reporting requirements on emergency management plans for school districts, local governments and utilities, including requiring all cities and counties to adopt a cybersecurity incident response plan, required to be reviewed every year. It also requires the governor to declare October as "Cybersecurity Awareness Month."
The measure was passed out of the Senate Government Affairs in March but was re-referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It's up for a hearing in committee at 6 p.m.
SB346: Omnibus marijuana bill
Sponsored by Democratic Sen. Dallas Harris, this bill requires the Nevada Department of Taxation to gather comprehensive demographic data about players within the marijuana industry and analyze the data to determine whether discrimination and disparities exist.
The bill also calls for a Center for Emerging Small Marijuana Business Advocacy and Services within the Governor's Office of Economic Development. The center would help businesses get information about financing and assist with inquiries from the businesses.
The bill is up for a hearing at 6 p.m. in the Senate Finance Committee.
AB80: Rethinking sentence lengths
If approved, AB80 would add to the Nevada Sentencing Commission an office with full-time, paid staff. The 25-member commission was designed to review sentencing guidelines and make recommendations on the minimum and maximum sentences that are appropriate for a given crime.
It's up for a hearing in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee at 6 p.m.
AB96: Historic Sites Passport Program
This bill would appropriate $50,000 to the state's Office of Historic Preservation to create a pilot passport program for state historic sites and buildings, including issuing stamps at certain historic sites.
It's up for a hearing in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee at 6 p.m.
AB155: Revising eligibility for the Silver State Opportunity Grant
Proposed by Democratic Assemblywoman Selena Torres, this bill would reduce the number of credit hours required to be eligible for the Silver State Opportunity Grant Scholarship, a state-backed financial aid program for community college students covering up to $5,500.
The bill would reduce the number of required credit hours from 15 to 12 and allow a student to still receive the scholarship if they take less than 12 credits during their final semester before graduation.
It's scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee at 6 p.m.
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