Nevada’s legislative session concluded on Tuesday, but Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo said “not so fast’ and will be calling a special session.
First, let’s start with the basics:
What Constitution?
Monday was the final day of Nevada’s constitutionally mandated biennial 120-day legislative session. The state constitution reads that the body must “sine die,” meaning to adjourn no later than midnight.
The Legislature shall adjourn sine die each regular session not later than midnight Pacific time at the end of the 120th consecutive calendar day of that session, inclusive of the day on which that session commences.
The Senate adjourned at 12:19 a.m. on Tuesday (notably, not Monday) so I guess they didn’t get the whole constitutional mandate memo, but after breaking the constitution for nearly twenty minutes, including taking multiple recesses, (which should have been motions that were deemed out-of-order, if you asked me) rose to their feet to give themselves a standing ovation. You’ve gotta be kidding me.
And, even though some Nevadans endured Clark County’s crumbling public school system, most managed to emerge fully literate. Legislators: Nevadans can see you, can read the plain language of our state’s most important document, and they know that what you did was a slap in the face because it isn’t what the Constitution requires.
Concur. That really bugged me.
— MitchAbides 🛵 (@MitchAbides) June 6, 2023
Y’all Come Back Now, Ya Hear?
But, the legislators won’t be packing their bags quite yet. Nevada’s Republican Governor Joe Lombardo is going to call them right back to work to finish the job. The Gov. promptly issued a statement at 1:00 a.m., writing:
Late last night, the regular legislative session concluded. My office and I are conferring with legislative leadership this evening and I anticipate calling a special session in the morning. I will issue a proclamation to outline agenda items for the special session when finalized.
My statement on the end of the legislative session below. pic.twitter.com/qrXdTPoPuc
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) June 6, 2023
Well, Joe told you so. Remember this?
What about this one?
GOP Nevada Gov. Lombardo Tries to ‘Get S*** Done’ With Election Reforms Over Democrat Resistance
Local Republicans are excited to have the Governor standing by his word, and working to “Get Sh*t Done,” as has become the administration’s motto, following a quote from Lombardo at the beginning of the year.
I would love to be the one writing Gov. @JoeLombardoNV’s proclamation calling Yeager, Cannizzaro & the Dems into special session. I’d end it with…
“CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!!!”
— Chuck Muth (@ChuckMuth) June 6, 2023
Lombardo’s special session agenda is still a subject of speculation. Some expect the Governor will be laying out the priorities that the voters put him in office to accomplish, and school choice through charter school funding is an anticipated headliner. Among the other items speculated to be included in the Gov.’s “get back to work” notice, is a film tax credit, that a newer Nevada resident, actor, and entrepreneur Mark Wahlberg lobbied in support of last week. The Oakland A’s baseball club’s relocation and stadium funding is also anticipated to be an issue.
Meanwhile, other sources say the special session will only include the central issue of the Capital Improvements bill.
But the NV Senate Republicans hinted at the education issue in their statement published shortly after the legislative session adjournment, writing:
Although there has been ample time to address these issues during the regular session, the majority has neglected our priorities to support equitable funding for public charter school employees and staff as well as capital funding for charter schools. Nevada voters elected a Republican Governor, and the budget should be a reflection of our shared values.
Senate Republicans Force Special Session Immediately Following Sine Die. #nvleg pic.twitter.com/dO5Fhi0eYD
— Nevada Senate Republicans (@NVGOPSenate) June 6, 2023
The ‘CIP’ Crux
On its final day, the legislature approved Governor Lombardo’s two priority bills, an education bill (AB 400) and a crime bill (SB 412), which were pushed through at the last minute, indicating cooperation between the governor and legislative Democrats. The education bill was significantly amended, focusing on funding transportation for charter schools and allowing local governments to sponsor them.
Sources suggest that the last-minute passage of Lombardo’s bills prompted a negotiation between the governor and legislative Democrats on the state appropriations budget worth $7 billion. Since the Capital Improvements Project (CIP) AB 521, renews a statewide property tax, it requires a two-thirds majority in both houses to be sent to the governor’s desk due to the included tax. The 12-9 vote in the Senate on Monday failed to meet the two-thirds threshold. Senate Minority Leader Heidi Seevers Gansert (R) rose, addressing the Republican opposition and saying the amendments weren’t good enough.
Just after midnight, the office of Democratic Speaker Steve Yeager abruptly canceled a planned press conference when the legislature failed to pass the fifth budget bill. Yeager said that legislative Republicans “prioritized politics over policy” by not approving the CIP.
The failure to pass the Capital Improvements bill is the primary reason Gov. Lombardo will call for a special session.
The CIP bill (AB521) fails on an initial vote 12-9 (Senate Majority Leader Cannizzaro votes against with Rs and immediately moves to rescind vote on bill).
Bill is now on secretary's desk. Back into discussions between Ds/Rs on the last key portion of the state budget.
— Sean Golonka (@s_golonka) June 6, 2023
Blood in the Water, Pork on the Bill
Republicans maneuvered in opposition through AB 525 and SB 341 which have been dubbed “Christmas tree” bills, that award taxpayer money to preferred nonprofits in the state, under the guise of… actually, nothing in particular: “Free bands,” as the kids these days might say. Senate Minority Leader Heidi Seevers Gansert, said it another way:
The irony is we’ve seen more pork bills, and there’s more bacon and lard packed in those bills than you can find in a Farmer John packing plant.
The Nevada Republican Party (NV GOP) has heavily opposed these bills. RNC Committeewoman Sigal Chattah condemned the bills as funding for ballot harvesting operations. Chattah said the Democrats were “playing for blood,” and declared “This is war.”
AB 525 heads to the Governor’s desk to await its fate.
Wake up- and get involved. There’s no excuse not to. ⚖️ #NVDems play for blood- not for bipartisanship. This is war. Zero concessions. pic.twitter.com/KAXWG69jjd
— Sigal Chattah (@Chattah4Nevada) June 5, 2023
The $55 million dollar “Christmas tree” bill, AB 525, was done “behind the bar” on the final day of the session. This means that procedures and public input were overridden to rush legislation through.
The practice of hearing bills 'behind the bar', is done in order to avoid hearing public testimony. The outrageous exemption of the #NVLeg from Ethics laws and Open Meeting Laws needs to end. 2/4
— Nevada GOP (@NVGOP) June 5, 2023
Monday’s Vetoes
Gov. Lombardo vetoed two bills on Monday and became the first governor in the nation to override a “physician-assisted suicide” legalization bill, SB 239. The bill would have permitted terminal patients to receive life-ending drugs, in some circumstances. The Governor wrote in his veto message:
Given recent progress in science and medicine and the fact that only a small number of states and jurisdictions allow for similar end-of-life protocols, I am not comfortable supporting this bill.
The second bill vetoed on Monday was a cap for prescription drugs. Lombardo wrote that the bill “would set arbitrary price caps in Nevada based on federal decisions with no review or consideration from state stakeholders,” and concluded to send it back to the legislature without signature, writing:
Since AB 250 would ultimately lead to higher costs and less accessibility to certain forms of care, I cannot support it.
Nevadans are anxiously awaiting Lombardo’s proclamation, and RedState will continue to monitor the Republican Governor’s leadership in the upcoming special session.
Read More:
NV Gov Joe Lombardo Loads up Veto Pen Against Democrats’ Gun Laws, More Battles to Come
Budget Battle Royale: NV Gov. Lombardo’s Veto Count Keeps Climbing
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