Nevada lawmakers have proposed bills that call for a combined $900 million in new spending not included in the budget, a wish list of spending facing long odds amid the state’s precarious economic situation.

The high number of appropriation requests analyzed by The Nevada Independent reflects the desire among legislators to fund projects that, under a rosier economic picture, would have a more likely chance of passing. These initiatives range anywhere from a new veterans community center in Virginia City and addressing food insecurity to programs boosting early childhood support. 

But with projected state revenues over the next two-year budget cycle decreasing by $191 million and dark clouds likely on the economic horizon, legislative leadership has emphasized that their priorities are keeping current programs in place to avoid cuts. 

It likely means that bills with a price tag will face an uphill battle.

“I would love to be able to [pass these bills],” said Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D-North Las Vegas), the chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. “This isn’t going to be the session for that.”

Not everything appears off the table, though, as some bills with a price tag have received hearings, including two from Sen. Julie Pazina (D-Las Vegas) that fund the creation and maintenance of school gardens (SB104) and a new pediatric stem cell and bone marrow transplant program (SB228).

The Indy’s analysis focuses on bills with new appropriations, not fiscal notes, which are analyses conducted by other governmental entities about a proposal’s potential financial implications. 

It also excludes money that was already baked into Gov. Joe Lombardo’s recommended budget — such as the more than $300 million for his priorities bills, no sure thing to pass the Democratic-controlled Legislature — to show the breadth of funding requests that came from lawmakers.

The updated version of Lombardo’s recommended budget (which originally had a structural deficit of $335 million) designated $389 million in unallocated or leftover revenue in fiscal year 2026, and $334 million in fiscal year 2027. This is money that theoretically could be used for legislators’ requests for new appropriations, but the state would in all likelihood not use it entirely because doing so could put it in an even more precarious financial position going forward.

The budget situation has changed significantly since the start of the session.

The legislative money committees have cut more than $450 million in spending from Lombardo’s recommended budget, according to a Nevada Independent analysis, to weather some of the projected $191 million decrease in projected revenues. Additionally, unanticipated shortfalls, such as the projected $53 million shortfall in the Department of Corrections related to mass overtime payouts, will eat into how much money the state has in its coffers.

Additionally, AB587, introduced on Friday, would transfer more than $350 million from the state’s rainy day fund — a pool of money for emergencies — to the general fund. Lombardo’s housing bill’s price tag also decreased by $50 million because of an amendment.

What are legislators asking for?

The more than $900 million in new spending requests would go toward dozens of new initiatives, including:

• AB268, sponsored by Assm. Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas), which funds $33 million for universal free school meals
• AB353, brought by Assm. Reuben D’Silva (D-Las Vegas), to provide $2.4 million in laptop costs for UNR Pell Grant recipients
• AB475, a committee proposal, which gives $25 million to eviction diversion programs in Clark County and the City of Reno
• SB90, proposed by Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop (D-Las Vegas), which provides $15 million for a program to allow school staff to obtain classroom supplies
• SB145, sponsored by Sen. Angie Taylor (D-Reno), which allocates $12.5 million for the refurbishment of Lear Theater in Reno
• SB282, brought by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas), which appropriates $10 million to provide grants to grocery stores to expand health food access in food deserts
• SB283, also sponsored by Cannizzaro, which provides $33 million in rental assistance to people in Clark County, Reno or Sparks who are elderly, disabled or facing emergencies
• SB448, a committee proposal, to start a program to provide education and employment opportunities to children ages 16-25 who are not part of a school or work program

Funding for education programs makes up more than half of the requests, followed by health care and housing.

Monroe-Moreno said many of these proposed appropriations would benefit the state, but her focus is on avoiding cuts.

“My priority as a fiscal leader in this building is putting Nevada families first and making sure they have food, they're able to pay their mortgages, their rent, and they have health care,” she said. “Anything else after that would be icing on the cake.”

Who’s asking for the most money?

There are 28 legislators who have proposed bills with an appropriation, totaling nearly $770,000.

Cannizzaro’s bills ask for by far the most money of any legislator — about $419 million — mostly through her expansive education bill that includes $250 million for teacher raises. The Legislature’s budget committees already approved including this in the budget, but the funding remains in her bill.

“We obviously included it in the Educate Act because it is an important priority,” Cannizzaro said in an interview. “We cannot be cutting teachers’ salaries and asking them to do more and believing that our kids are going to continue to have a qualified teacher in every classroom if we're not willing to invest in the people in that classroom.”

Legislators with other large money asks include Assm. Bert Gurr (R-Elko), mostly coming from a $60 million request to build an elementary school in White Pine. Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Henderson) was up next with $50 million, all through an appropriation request for the City of Hope to create an outpatient cancer treatment clinic in Clark County.

There were also several sizable appropriation requests via legislation introduced by committees. This equaled more than $150,000, about one-sixth of total appropriation requests not included in the governor’s recommended budget.