Legislative committees are focusing less on bills and more on presentations on Thursday, with plans to hear about the performance of Nevada’s marijuana taxes, the state’s early childhood education system and regional transportation authorities.

That’s not to say no bills are on tap. Lawmakers will discuss measures that would require lobbyists and legislators to disclose less information to the public, set the stage for Nevada System of Higher Education regents to be appointed instead of elected and provide grants to entities that need matching funds to receive public lands-related federal dollars.

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’s what to watch for on Thursday at the Legislature:

Welfare and Supreme Court budgets

One joint money subcommittee is hearing about budgets within the welfare division, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Energy Assistance programs, while another is hearing the details of the Nevada Supreme Court’s budget.

Both subcommittees meet at 8 a.m.

The Assembly Education Committee will hear presentations on Nevada’s Early Childhood Education programs and Nevada Reading Week, which features the Read with my Barber program.

The committee meets at 1:30 p.m.

AJR5: Taking the Board of Regents out of the constitution

Members of the Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections will hear AJR5 from the 2017 session — a measure that seeks to remove the Nevada Board of Regents from the state constitution.

The proposed constitutional amendment comes amid concerns about the regents being an elected, rather than appointed, position. While the constitutional amendment would not automatically end the election of regents because state law also specifies regents are elected, it would make it easier to move toward appointments in the future.

If it passes this year, the resolution will go to the voters for consideration.

The committee meets at 4 p.m.

AB121: Lobbyist and legislator reporting changes

Proposed by Democratic Assemblyman Skip Daly and scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee, AB121 would add several major exceptions to reporting requirements for lobbyists and lawmakers.

The bill would create several new categories of exemptions from the Legislature’s ban on gifts from lobbyists to legislators. Among them are certain revenues from property ownership and any payments made to lawmakers working as an independent contractor or if they receive a payment from a court-ordered judgment.

It would also allow lawmakers to avoid reporting any meetings, trips or events taken as part of their employment on their financial disclosure form. The measure would also exclude any person who employs or hires a lobbyist from having to register as a lobbyist, unless they meet the definition of a lobbyist themselves.

It also changes financial disclosure requirements for candidates appointed to a public office.

The committee meets at 4 p.m.

Transportation overview

The Assembly and Senate Growth and Infrastructure committees will meet to receive four different transportation-related presentations. Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada general manager Tina Quigley, Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County executive director Lee Gibson and Nevada Department of Transportation director Kristina Swallow will give overview presentations of their departments.

Lawmakers will also receive a presentation on “Electrifying Nevada’s 21st Century Transportation Program.”

The committees will meet at 1:30 p.m.

Sales and pot taxes

A joint meeting of the Senate Revenue and Economic Development and Assembly Taxation committees will meet to receive two overviews from the Department of Taxation. State officials will give lawmakers an overview of state and local taxes as well as marijuana.

The joint committee will meet at 4 p.m.

SB96: Public Lands grant

Members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources are set to hear details of a bill that would create a matching grant program for local governments who receive federal funds on public land issues.

The bill, SB96, would require the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to create a Nevada Public Lands Grant Program, which would provide grants to eligible governments and other recipients who are required to put up matching funds for any federal grant related to public lands.

The legislation also includes a $500,000 appropriation to the program and allows the department director to adopt regulations on eligibility requirements and other criteria for granting of rewards.

Updated at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2019 to clarify effect of AJR5 on regent elections.