The Nevada Justice Association, through its political arm, donated more than $320,000 directly to state lawmakers during the 2024 cycle, in addition to nearly $500,000 to PACs associated with prominent Democratic legislators.

Staff at The Nevada Independent bring you all the details you need to know from the first major legislative deadline.

In this edition of Behind the Bar, legislators want to protect workers from wildfire smoke and push use-it-or-lose-it broadband funding out the door.

It is the second straight cycle where the industry was the second-highest category of donor to state lawmakers, slotting in behind gaming groups, but this year’s haul had much more of a Republican lean than the 2022 cycle.

Some lawmakers were concerned about assurances that the workforce would be made up of Nevadans and whether it would benefit regions outside of Southern Nevada, while trade unions showed wide support for the proposal.

A Nevada district court has ruled that sections of a 2023 bill that essentially forced the Elko County Commission to earmark a portion of property tax proceeds for schools in exchange for funding to build a new Owyhee school are unconstitutional.

With the party locked out of power and having lost the popular vote for the first time in decades, Blanco (who has worked in Nevada since 2009) ran for DNC vice chair with a motto of “back to basics” — a return to the organizing principles she learned under former DNC Chair Howard Dean and the late Nevada Sen. Harry Reid. 

Nevada Democrats are arguing that the best way for the DNC to move forward is to further elevate the Silver State. 

As in 2022, state Democrats argue that Nevada is the only state that meets the DNC’s professed preferences for a state that is racially and economically diverse, politically competitive and feasible for candidates and the party, both from a cost and technical competence perspective. Given Democratic losses in 2024 with Latino voters and working class voters, state party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno wrote that the DNC should elevate a state that possesses those kinds of voters in droves.

State officials no longer want pandemic relief funds to bankroll most of the project because amid fears that all of the money would not be used before spending deadlines. Lawmakers and residents worry it could imperil the project.

For the first time since 1998, no Democrat is running for the reliably Republican Northern Nevada district. Instead, Amodei is facing a nonpartisan challenge.

A train of up-and-coming Democratic stars stopped by the Nevada delegation’s breakfasts in Chicago this week to address the Silver State delegates whose influence will be paramount come the next competitive Democratic presidential primary.

Nevada’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention committed its 49 votes to Vice President Kamala Harris — securing the swing state’s slate of delegates for Harris as she attempts to rapidly consolidate support after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race Sunday.

In March, the Nevada DMV said the project to upgrade its computer systems was within budget and on track for a 2026 completion. Now, it may cost $300 million more and wrap up in fiscal year 2029.

The fundraising lead is split in the 10 competitive races where both parties’ establishments have endorsed candidates.

A year after taking back the helm, “DMM” has overseen the rebuilding of the state party through the hiring of permanent staffers, the implementation of quarterly weekends of service to engage volunteers and the all-important task of raising money. Her leadership has marked a return to the practices that former Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and the eponymous Machine he implemented and ran for nearly two decades.

Legislators approved more than $17 million in American Rescue Plan funds for mental health and substance use facilities in Northern Nevada.

Plus: The growth of nonpartisan voters and a new poll

Five years after state lawmakers passed a bill for a "modified" community solar program in the state, NV Energy has not reached the minimum construction standards set by the bill and enrollment in the program is lagging.

An interim legislative committee on Thursday approved about $56 million to fund additional raises for teachers and support staff at seven school districts.