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Temp agencies clash with skilled trades over construction workforce bill
A bill that begins to address employee misclassification within the construction industry has drawn fierce criticism from personal employment agencies, who say it would force them to upend their existing business models. Assembly Bill 227 makes it clearer in statute that any work requiring a contractor’s license must be performed by a licensed contractor or […]
More Nevadans taking advantage of special savings account for people with disabilities
The number of disabled people who have opened specialized savings accounts has already skyrocketed over the past two years, according to the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office. And participation may further increase, thanks to a bill signed into law this week. In 2019, fewer than 100 Nevadans had opened an ABLE account, which is a tax-free […]
State considering retirement savings program for private sector workers
More than half of Nevadans working in the private sector lack the ability to automatically deduct retirement savings from their paychecks. That’s a problem that will catch up to folks — and to the state’s social service programs — once they hit retirement age. “This problem is not going to solve itself,” says Jessica Eckman, […]
Inland ports bill is about trucks, trains, freight … and your house?
A decade ago, state lawmakers touted inland ports as a path to boosting economic diversification in Nevada. But the legislation they passed to support that ambition bore no fruit. This year, lawmakers are taking another swing at it. A proposed inland ports bill making its way through the Nevada State Legislature has already drawn ample […]
DETR looks to future with proposed bill; critics want today’s problems fixed
Nevada’s unemployment office wants to prepare for the next economic downturn. Senate Bill 308 would establish what’s called a work-sharing program within the state’s traditional unemployment system. Instead of completely laying off employees, a company could opt to spread the reduction across a group of several employees, theoretically saving the same amount of money but […]
Downloading music? Streaming shows? You might soon have to pay sales tax on that.
As Nevadans have transitioned from physical copies of music, movies and books to digital versions, some things have been left behind. Blockbuster video rental stores, for example. And sales tax. Nevada’s sales tax is applicable only to tangible products — the physical CDs, DVDs, books, video games and software being sold. Digital copies of those […]
Raiders go on defense to keep tax exemption
The Las Vegas Raiders and Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday pushed back against a proposed bill that would remove their existing exemption from the state’s live entertainment tax. Senate Bill 367 would have Nevada treat its professional sports teams’ games the same as its Strip productions, musical concerts and theatre performances. Those latter types of […]
Can the federal relief bill fix Nevada child care’s long-standing shortcomings?
The number of licensed child care providers is down 8% from pre-pandemic levels, according to new numbers from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, there were 675 licensed child care providers statewide. Now, there are 625. That represents an 8% drop from pre-pandemic levels, which were […]
Measure would give businesses tax credits for donating to charter schools
A new bill is taking aim at what has long been coveted by charter school operators: dedicated money for their buildings. Nevada charter schools receive per-pupil dollars from the state’s distributive schools account, but they receive no facility funding, which is generated at the county level through property taxes. School districts receive both. Charter school […]
Is this the year Nevada ends the death penalty?
Criminal justice advocates are optimistic this might be the year Nevada abolishes the death penalty. The Assembly Judiciary Committee on Wednesday introduced a bill that would remove the option to sentence someone to death. Assembly Bill 395 would also change the sentence of all current death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of […]
Nevada mental health resources would have to double just to be average
Nevada would need to double the number of psychologists and psychiatrists to be considered average by national standards. The national average is 30 psychologists and 15.6 psychiatrists per 100,000 residents. Nevada’s rate for these behavioral health professionals is 14.5 and 9, respectively. Other specialties are in even lower supply: Nevada would need to quadruple the […]
HOA foreclosure process comes under scrutiny
Nevada lawmakers last summer declared racism a public health crisis and signaled a desire to address systemic racism. Now, it’s time for lawmakers to pass policies to support that mission, says state Sen. Pat Spearman (D-Clark). And they could start with homeowners associations. Spearman is sponsoring Senate Bill 144, which would change the process used […]