Nevada Legislature 2013 - Las Vegas Sun News

Andrew Doughman / Las Vegas Sun

Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore inspects the product and learns about the different uses for and varieties of marijuana during a trip to a dispensary in Arizona on Friday, March 22, 2013.

Committee sends bill for medical marijuana clinics to Nevada Senate

May 23, 2013 (12:08 p.m.)

By Cy Ryan

A plan to create a network of medical marijuana clinics — with the owners paying hefty licensing fees — was approved by the Nevada Senate Finance Committee today.

Gay adoptive parents live as a ‘normal family’ in Las Vegas but yearn for right to marry

May 23, 2013

By Jackie Valley

They live in a spacious Summerlin home that boasts four bedrooms, a three-car garage, an outdoor pool and a sizable patch of grass in the backyard. The environment screams family atmosphere, and it is. Greg Flamer and Fletcher Whitwell, a gay couple, consider themselves and their adopted daughter a family like anyone else in the gated neighborhood. But the road to becoming a family was a difficult one because of Nevada’s ban on same-sex marriage, which added extra steps throughout the adoption process, they said.
Tax district aspect to UNLV Now stadium bill gets a tweak

May 23, 2013

By Paul Takahashi

A tax-increment financing plan may no longer be part of the UNLV stadium bill, according to discussions between university officials and lawmakers.
Higher dues for homeowners at stake in HOA legislation

May 23, 2013

By Andrew Doughman

Anyone living in a homeowners’ association in Nevada might want to pay attention to the next few weeks at the Legislature.
Bill to expand background checks for gun purchases passes Nevada Senate

May 22, 2013

By Anjeanette Damon

In a party line vote following an emotional floor debate, the Nevada Senate today passed a measure that would expand background check requirements to private party firearm sales.
Senate passes bill to replace NV Energy coal plants

May 22, 2013

By Anjeanette Damon

A measure that would require Nevada's largest electricity provider to accelerate the closure of its coal-fired power plants and launch massive new construction projects to replace the coal plants with renewable energy and natural gas passed the Nevada Senate unanimously today.
A look at what the proposed ‘fun tax’ would mean for your wallet

May 22, 2013

By Andrea Domanick

The proposed tax has drawn a lot of fire, including a Steve Wynn visit to Carson City.
Democrats cry uncle on taxes, accuse Republicans of obstruction

May 22, 2013

By Anjeanette Damon,
Andrew Doughman

If there’s one promise Democrats have kept so far this session, it’s to have a discussion about taxes. But with the majority party’s capitulation on the Senate floor Tuesday that their payroll tax hike proposal is dead, it appears that discussion is all it’s going to be.
Bill would divert some water, sewer funds to provide a little relief in North Las Vegas

May 21, 2013

By Andrew Doughman

Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, plans to introduce a bill that would give the North Las Vegas financial relief.
Measure to squeeze small slot parlors advances to Assembly

May 21, 2013

By Cy Ryan

The Senate has approved a bill that puts greater restrictions on licensing small slot arcades in the future in Clark and Washoe counties. The bill, aimed primarily at Dotty's slot parlors, was passed 18-3 and goes to the Assembly.
Senate Democrats give up on payroll tax hike to help schools

May 21, 2013

By Anjeanette Damon

Running up against the reality of a powerful Republican minority, Senate Democrats on Tuesday gave up on their push for new taxes to fund education programs they've argued all session are critical to fund.
Bill closing gun background check loophole advances at Nevada Legislature

May 21, 2013

By Anjeanette Damon

Moments after a cadre of gun control advocates who lost family members in mass shootings arrived in Carson City, the Senate Finance Committee passed SB 211 in a party line vote. It now heads to the Senate floor, where it almost certainly will face a pitched partisan battle.
Last-minute bill introduced to cap emergency room charges

May 21, 2013

By Andrew Doughman

Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, wants to amend the constitution to cap costs for anybody receiving treatment in a hospital emergency room. “This is something for our constituents that is important,” she said.
Where I Stand: Inequity in state’s spending on roads is a joke

May 21, 2013

By Brian Greenspun

Connecting the dots in Carson City is a fool’s errand. Enter the fool. Sen. Debbie Smith has bottled up Senate Bill 322 in her committee despite a previous unanimous vote to move it to the floor for passage. But why?
Mo Denis to go to bat for payroll tax hike today

May 21, 2013

By Andrew Doughman

Perhaps nobody at the Legislature this year has been more insistent than Nevada Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis that the state must immediately put more money into Nevada’s education system.