Gov. Lombardo calls Nevada special session for film tax credits, crime, much more

By Mark Robison, Reno Gazette Journal

Gov. Joe Lombardo issued a proclamation Wednesday evening calling the Nevada Legislature into a special session starting Thursday morning to tackle film tax subsidies, a crime bill and a number of other issues.

In a news release, his office said it was “to address legislative and budgetary matters requiring urgent action.”

A legislative special session is estimated to cost $100,000 a day, and the Nevada Constitution says one may only be convened “on extraordinary occasions.”

“Nevadans deserve action now — not years from now — on legislation that implements critical public safety measures, expands healthcare access, and supports good-paying jobs,” Lombardo said in a statement. “By calling this special session, we are reaffirming our responsibility to act decisively and deliver meaningful results for the people of Nevada.”

The Legislature is only allowed to consider items specifically mentioned in the governor’s proclamation.

What will Nevada Legislature’s 2025 special session focus on?

Here are the bills and issues that Lombardo said will be addressed:

• Concerning insurance requirements for short-term vehicle leases.
• Establishing the Statewide Health Care Access and Recruitment Grant Program to address provider shortages across Nevada.
• Revising provisions related to public safety, juvenile justice, pretrial release and opioid use disorder — also known as the crime bill.
• Enacting the Nevada Studio Infrastructure Jobs and Workforce Training Act to promote motion picture and media production in the state — also known as film tax credits.
• Revising laws governing the sale and regulation of alcoholic beverages.
• Continuing relocation efforts for residents of Windsor Park in North Las Vegas.
• Clarifying provisions related to legislative property, publication procedures and statutory organization.
• Establishing the Security Operations Center and Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline Program within the Office of the Chief Information Officer.
• Creating the Silver State General Assistance Program within the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services.
• Increasing penalties and expanding local authority over school zone traffic enforcement.
• Expanding confidentiality protections for certain personal information and campaign-related expenses for public officers.
• Aligning Nevada labor standards with federal law.

The proclamation also authorizes the Legislature to consider funding for public safety, health care, infrastructure, education and state operations, including:

• Indigent defense, rural judges and district attorneys.
• A jail-based behavioral health program.
• Wildland fire trucks for the Nevada Division of Forestry.
• Investments in education, medical infrastructure, and cybersecurity staffing.

The proclamation also mentions SNAP food benefits and the University of Nevada, Reno.

It says that allocating funding will be considered for software to identify SNAP cases that are likely to contain errors and for a shortfall in administrative cost sharing for SNAP.

Additional funding will be considered for the state medical lab at UNR and bonds for speedy construction for UNR’s life sciences building.

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