Behind the Bar: We’re so back
In today’s edition:
- What we know about the secretary of state’s bill to speed up ballot counting
- Legislative building construction update
- Lombardo dark money group financial details
From the Capital Bureau Chief:
Welcome to our first edition of Behind the Bar for the 83rd legislative session. The newsletter will have a slightly different format this year but still provide you with essential updates on the Legislature twice a week (possibly more).
We want to give you essential information quickly and concisely, while also bringing you details from insiders to help contextualize what’s happening in Carson City.
We’re launching the newsletter ahead of Gov. Joe Lombardo’s State of the State address on Wednesday, where we’re told the governor will focus on policies surrounding housing, health care, education, crime and economic development. Expect to hear about incentives for new housing development, as well as school choice initiatives and accountability efforts — major Lombardo priorities.
An undercurrent that you’ll want to pay attention to is how Lombardo plans to work with the Democrat-controlled Legislature and vice versa. As the governor looks ahead to his re-election bid in 2026, will he use this moment to extend an olive branch in his speech? How will Democrats respond?
Please send us your questions, comments, observations, jokes, or what you think we should cover or pay attention to. You can reach me at [email protected].
Despite ongoing construction, legislative session will be “held as usual”
When hundreds of people arrive at Carson City for the State of the State address, they’ll see an active construction site just outside of the Assembly chambers where Gov. Joe Lombardo will give his speech.
Here’s what you should know:
- Though metal supports are still visible and a fence surrounds the work site, officials say the construction will not delay the start of the legislative session or push lawmakers out of the building.
- Diane Thornton, acting director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, told The Indy that the Senate and Assembly chambers are “fully operational and ready to accommodate legislative business as scheduled.”
- Thornton said the building has remained open to the public throughout construction and visitors can access the building through the east entrance. The west entrance, which faces Carson Street, is scheduled to open in February.
- Though the building will be “fully functional,” Thornton said there will be ongoing aesthetic finishes and minor construction work on the exterior and interior of the building during the session.
— Tabitha Mueller
What we’re reading and writing
Longtime Nevada lobbyist Neena Laxalt remembered for mentorship in male-dominated industry by Tabitha Mueller
Colleagues say she shaped the lobbying corps by taking younger lobbyists under her wing, coordinating coffee meetings and celebrating their successes.
Lombardo raised $3.2M in 2024, setting fundraising record 2 years ahead of re-election bid by Eric Neugeboren
Lombardo’s haul marked the largest fundraising and cash on hand numbers for a sitting governor at this point in their re-election campaign.
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear Utah’s public lands challenge by Anastasia Hufham, The Salt Lake Tribune
This case could have significant implications for Nevada, where more than 80 percent of land is owned and administered by the federal government.
Lieutenant governor’s new task force continues debate over transgender student athletes by Rocio Hernandez
A new task force is looking to bar transgender athletes from women’s sports, pushing back against decades of advocacy that has established Nevada as a state with protective LGBTQ+ policies.
What a Trump presidency means for Biden-approved federal spending in Nevada by Gabby Birenbaum
Though President Joe Biden’s administration has committed billions to Nevada, the bulk of the money must be implemented under President-elect Donald Trump.
SOS dishes on legislative priorities
In an interview with The Nevada Independent last week, Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar previewed the legislative priorities for his office. Here’s five takeaways:
- Notably, the text of his office’s proposal based on lessons from last year’s elections has not been released yet, but it is expected to focus on speeding up ballot counting.
- The most wide-ranging bill introduced so far is SB74, an election administration bill that largely mirrors the original text of SB60, a bill from the 2023 session with language that was entirely changed in the final days of the session. The bill would allow voters who did not receive mail ballots or cannot cast their ballots in person for health reasons to use an online ballot typically reserved for overseas and military voters.
- The office also introduced AB79, a campaign finance bill that would prohibit PACs from using donations for personal use and require them to post their account balances at the end of each financial reporting period.
- The bill would also allow elected officials to use unspent contributions for expenses related to child care, care for an elderly parent and health insurance premiums that they could not afford because of their role as an elected official. It would also require that aspiring candidates, within one week of receiving at least $100 in contributions, file a “notice of intent to file for candidacy,” which would create more transparency around who is running for office before the state’s filing period in March of election years.
- In a bill mirrored after legislation passed in Washington state, AB73 would require disclosure of any use of AI in campaign materials.
- And Aguilar’s office is also re-upping its push for a fund to compensate security fraud victims through SB76 after similar legislation stalled in 2023 because of what he called a “technical error.”
— Eric Neugeboren
Keeping Tabs
📃 State-managed public option/reinsurance program one step closer to implementation — The federal government approved Nevada's State Innovation Waiver application, which allows states to apply for funding to help increase access to high-quality, affordable health insurance. The Nevada Independent first reported the approval, which is required as part of the state’s move to a public option under a 2021 law brought by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas).
- Context: Though Gov. Joe Lombardo initially expressed hostility toward the option, calling it “bullshit,” his administration moved forward on implementation with the requirement that the state establish a reinsurance program — a system that essentially works as insurance for insurance companies, paying a portion of high-cost claims and thus allowing insurers to lower the premiums for individual health insurance plans.
💰Lombardo dark money group made $382K from inaugural balls — The Service First Fund, a Lombardo-affiliated nonprofit that does not have to disclose its donors, raked in $382,000 in profits from his inaugural balls two years ago, according to its 2023 tax return.
- Context: Unlike his predecessors, Lombardo raised funds for his inaugural balls through a nonprofit, which requires less transparency than PACs. The nonprofit changed names after his inauguration and became part of the governor’s political machine, launching attack ads against Democratic lawmakers. He vetoed legislation in 2023 that would have required “inaugural committees” to disclose their financial contributions and expenditures, saying that government transparency legislation should apply to more than a single office.
🩺 Treasurer’s office launches student loan forgiveness program for health care professionals — Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine’s office implemented a state-funded loan forgiveness program last week to increase the number of health care professionals in the Silver State. The program passed during the 2023 legislative session, offering student loan repayment options ranging from $15,000 to $120,000 for health care providers working in underserved Nevada communities.
🍽️ Gov. Joe Lombardo joins Trump for dinner — Lombardo spokeswoman Elizabeth Ray told The Nevada Independent Lombardo joined President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican governors for dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. Reporting from Politico indicated the gathering offered governors a chance to “reaffirm their loyalty” and come into alignment on Trump’s priorities for mass deportation, which will require buy-in at the state level if they are to succeed.
💸 $10,000 to Cloobeck? – Campaign reports show former Gov. Steve Sisolak donated $10,000 to California gubernatorial hopeful Steve Cloobeck. Sisolak also gave to Democratic legislative leaders, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and Reno City Council member Devon Reese, who may be eyeing a mayoral bid.
— Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren
Looking Ahead
- Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m.: Gov. Joe Lombardo’s State of the State address.
- Thursday, Jan. 30, at 10:30 a.m.: School choice groups are holding a student rally at the Nevada State Capitol to celebrate National School Choice Week.
- Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m.: Don’t miss this IndyTalks event with Gov. Joe Lombardo at the National Automobile Museum Event Center in Reno.
Days until:
- State of the State: 1
- First day of session: 20
- Last day for bill introductions: 62
- First house passage deadline: 98
- Sine die: 139
And to get you going into the week, a few social media posts that caught our eye:
- Oh, how time flies…
- This is certainly one way to frame a silver lining.
- How many Commanders fans do we have on this staff?
We’ll see you on Thursday.