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Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has called lawmakers back for a special session to consider a long list of legislation, including a sweeping criminal reform proposal and a plan to bring film studios to Southern Nevada.
republican The governor announced the special session Wednesday evening, saying it would begin Thursday morning in Carson City. As governor, Lombardo has complete control over what is heard on the special session agenda, although the Democratic-majority Legislature Ultimately this affects what succeeds and what fails.
“Nevaans deserve action now on legislation that enacts critical public safety measures, expands health care access, and supports good-paying jobs – not a few years from now,” Lombardo said in a statement announcing the session. “By calling this special session, we are reaffirming our responsibility to act decisively and deliver meaningful results for the people of Nevada.”
The announcement comes nearly five months after the conclusion of the Legislature’s regular session, which is held every other year. Lawmakers rushed to take action on bills in the final hours of the session, which ended June 3, but key bills failed to reach the finish line, including the governor’s sweeping crime legislation and a proposal to expand tax incentives to lure film studios. vegas,
Lombardo last called a special session in June 2023 to approve public funding for the Athletics’ Las Vegas ballpark, which is under active construction and expected to be completed by the 2028 Major League Baseball season.
Lawmakers will discuss the governor’s far-reaching crime bill, known as the Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act, which would impose tougher penalties for DUI and other crimes against hospitality workers, including assault and battery. It will also renovate the now-closed Resort Corridor Court to handle some of the crime originating from the Strip.
The legislature will also consider cybersecurity legislation to set up a security operations center after the state grappled with a massive cyberattack that disrupted state services for several weeks.
Another step on extended film tax incentives
Also on the agenda for the special session is a proposal to offer $95 million in tax credits to Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery for a new film production facility in the Vegas suburbs, as well as a $25 million credit for construction elsewhere in the state.
Lombardo’s proposal comes after more than a dozen labor unions launched a campaign in support of renewing the effort.
If lawmakers successfully advance the bill this time, it would compete with cities like Las Vegas atlantaWhere the film industry has been booming for more than a decade due to more generous tax exemptions. CaliforniaMeanwhile, Hollywood has recently revamped its own tax incentive programs to address a several-year declining trend in film production.
Some trade unions were in support of the proposal – arguing that construction of the film studio would bring more jobs and provide a much-needed boost to Las Vegas’ tourism and economy – while the state employee union was vocal in its opposition.
The state chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees called the proposal “fiscally irresponsible and politically unsafe” and said it would generate only $0.52 in tax revenue for every $1 in the credit.