Legislative Summary – Week of March 28th
The bills we selected to include on “The 360” Legislative RoundUp are bills that have significant implications for communities of color. Many of the bills introduced during the legislative session impact communities of color and it is important to follow the process on bills that may have profound direct or unintended consequences for communities of color. Key issues like healthcare access, criminal justice, reproductive justice or economic issues tend to have dire impacts on specific groups. Our intent is to make the community aware of these bills so they can follow them and advocate for or against them during the session and also complete the process by measuring their impact and effectiveness after implementation. Moving the needle for racial justice is imperative since our legislature only meets once every two years for 120 days. Everything in the previous and following biennium needs to be legislated. If the community is not involved in the process, it takes two years to change anything that was passed.
This week we tackled quite a few topics on “The 360” Legislative RoundUp that have hit the floor of the Legislature. Below is the list of bills discussed in case you are interested in following or testifying on any of the bills as they make their rounds through the process. You can access the bills on NELIS, the Nevada Electronic Legislative Information System, which you can access at this link: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/81st2021
CORRECTIONS: I reported that the Student Loan Bill of Rights was AB 207 when in fact it is AB 382. Sorry for the confusion. I also reported that Asm. Cameron Miller was the sponsor of AB 158 when in fact it is sponsored by Asm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno.
The following bills have already had a committee hearing. They either passed out of committee with no amendment or were suggested to be amended. Therefore, they may be moving into a work session where additional information and new language is crafted to amend the bill. Listed below are the bill number, primary sponsor last name, and short description of the bill.
BILLS ALREADY HEARD IN COMMITTEE:
AJR 10 – (Watts) – Removes slavery and indentured servitude from the Nevada Constitution
AB 157 – (Monroe-Moreno) – Karen Bill allowing a victim of a crime to sue the person who reported the crime
SB 212 – (Harris) – Restricts Use-Of-Force by police and police response to protests
AB 286 – (Jaregui) – Creates a gun trespass law for businesses
SB 144 – (Spearman) – Requires HOA’s to use the judicial process when making foreclosure decisions
AB 158 – (Monroe-Moreno) – CORRECTED - Reduces penalties for minor’s first offense with alcohol or cannabis
SB 190 – (Cannizzaro) – allows pharmacists to prescribe birth control
AB 256 – (Summers-Armstrong) – allows doulas to be covered by Medicaid
AB 322 – (Miller) – creates a license for cannabis consumption or sale at social events
To find any of the listed bills:
1. Go to leg.state.nv.us
2. Click NELIS in the top-right corner.
3. Choose Legislation and a drop-down menu will appear
4. Select “Assembly Bills” for bills starting with AB or “Senate Bills” for bills starting with SB
5. Enter the bill number with no spaces or punctuation (ex. AB321)
6. Hit Enter
BILLS INTRODUCED BUT NOT YET HEARD IN COMMITTEE:
The below listed bills have been read onto the floor aka introduced but have not yet been heard for the first time in committee and not yet scheduled for a committee hearing.
AB 382 – (Watts) – CORRECTED – Student Loan Bill of Rights -
UPCOMING BILLS
The following bills will have a hearing this week. Included are links and emails for participation in the hearings. You can also reference our “Guide to Legislative Engagement” for a step-by-step process.
AB 321 – Makes voting by mail a permanent option in Nevada
Sponsor: Asm. Jason Frierson
Committee: Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections
Hearing date & time: April 1, 2021 at 3:00pm PT
Committee chair email for letters of support or opposition (must be submitted by noon the day prior) AsmLOE@asm.state.nv.us
AB 230 – Restricts the direct filing of youth into the adult judicial system
Sponsor: Asm. Cameron Miller
Committee: Assembly Judiciary
Hearing date and time: April 1, 2021 at 8:00 am PT
THIS IS A WORK SESSION.
AB 336 – Requires a behavioral health evaluation for peace officers
Sponsor: Asm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno
Committee: Assembly Government Affairs
Hearing Date & Time: March 31, 2021 at 9:00 am PT
Committee chair email: AsmGA@asm.state.nv.us
Note: Email letters of support or opposition must be submitted by noon the day prior
AB 287 – Allows for the licensing of stand-alone birthing centers
Sponsor: Asm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno
Committee: Assembly Health and Human Services
Hearing Date & Time: April 1, 2021 at 1:30 pm PT
Committee chair email: AsmHHS@asm.state.nv.us
Note: Email letters of support or opposition must be submitted by noon the day prior
SB 200 – establishes a retirement savings program for private sector employees
Sponsor: Sen. Dallas Harris
Committee: Senate Government Affairs
Hearing Date & Time: March 30, 2021 at 3:30 pm PT
Committee chair email: AsmGA@asm.state.nv.us
Note: Email letters of support or opposition must be submitted by noon the day prior
SB 164 – Revises provisions to victims of sexual trafficking
Sponsor: Sen. Melanie Scheible
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Hearing Date & Time: March 30, 2021 at 1:00 pm PT
Committee chair email: SenJUD@sen.state.nv.us
Note: Email letters of support or opposition must be submitted by noon the day prior
AB 194 – provides an appeals process for students facing suspension or expulsion
Sponsor: Asm. Selena Torres
Committee: Assembly Education
Hearing Date & Time: March 29, 2021 at 1:00 pm PT
Committee Chair Email: AsmEd@asm.state.nv.us
Note: Email letters of support /opposition must be submitted by noon the day prior
DON’T forget that you can submit your opinion on any bill outside of the hearing at the opinion link available on NELIS. You can submit an opinion up to 48 hours after a bill hearing.
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/81st2021/
Look out for these and more legislative updates on Sunday at 1pm on IG Live or on the next episode of “The 360”! Follow @mpower_360 on IG, FB, and Twitter and join our text community by texting 702-935-2813.