LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Lawmakers in Carson City have started advancing legislation to the next step in the process, with bills born in the Assembly headed to the Senate and others flowing the opposite direction.
It’s the second major step in the passage of new laws, and an April 22 deadline is putting pressure on the Nevada Legislature to act fast. To become law, a bill must be approved in both chambers before going to Gov. Joe Lombardo for a signature. Some bills are exempt from the deadline — generally if the bill makes an appropriation.
NIL bill advances
Among the legislation that advanced on Tuesday, Democratic State Sen. Roberta Lange’s bill concerning NIL — name, image, likeness — and how UNLV and UNR can manage contracts directly with players. That’s a big change from existing law, which prohibits the universities from direct participation in the contracts.
UNR football coach Jeff Choate helped present the bill in March, saying it was needed to help Nevada universities remain competitive in recruiting.
An amendment from Republican Senate Minority Leader Robin Titus specifies that money received by the university foundation designated to support the NIL of a student-athlete must only be used for the purposes specified by the donor.
Senate Bill 293 restores some control to the universities, but includes an amendment that Titus couldn’t stomach.
She thanked Lange for accepting her amendment, “But I cannot accept that these things will be confidential. I think that it is a disservice to all the other students. I think that we talk about transparency, we have to list what we make. To have them have these funds and have no idea what these funds are and who is paying these student-athletes is just wrong and I cannot support this bill.”
SB293 passed 15-6 and advances to the Assembly.
FAKE ELECTORS: A bill to criminalize fake presidential electors also passed in the Senate. The bill follows the 2020 actions of a group of Republicans who falsely submitted President Donald Trump as the winner in Nevada when Joe Biden actually prevailed.
Senate Bill 102, if it becomes law, would impose a 1-4 year prison sentence and a ban from serving in public office for anyone convicted of intentionally creating or serving in a false slate of presidential electors, or conspiring to do so. The bill passed along party lines, 13-6, with Republicans opposed.
Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a bill in 2023 that required much longer prison sentences, but he hasn’t weighed in on this version yet.
SB293 now goes to the Assembly.
MIYA’S LAW: SB114 increases security for renters by requiring landlords to do a criminal background check before hiring an employee who will have access to master keys. It is named for 19-year-old Miya Marcano of Orlando, Florida. She was killed by an apartment maintenance worker in 2021.
Written policies and procedures for using the keys will be required, along with maintaining a log to keep track of who a key is issued to and when it is returned. The law would apply to complexes of more than 100 units.
Democratic State Sen. Julie Pazina sponsored the bill, which now goes to the Assembly.
