How to Contact Legislators and Voice Your Opinion The legislative website at www.leg.state.nv.us allows anyone, anywhere to follow Nevada’s legislative actions and reach their representatives through the Internet. Contact information for legislators, including email addresses, are readily available on the site (through the “Contact Information” link midway on the right side of the website; or… Read more
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Guinn Center Legislative Update: February 9, 2015
Understanding the Committee Process Most standing committees (e.g., Senate Committee on Health and Human Services) do not take action on a bill at its initial hearing, unless it is noncontroversial or deemed to require prompt action. Time is provided for Committee members to review testimony, and consult on possible amendments with their colleagues, lobbyists and… Read more
Guinn Center Legislative Update
Introduction The Guinn Center for Policy Priorities will be publishing regularly a “Legislative Update” to help inform readers about activities and actions during the 2015 session of the Nevada Legislature. In our nonpartisan manner, we will (1) summarize committee hearings and actions, and recap floor actions in both houses, (2) provide an overview of the… Read more
Federal spending–Nevada’s rankings among the states
Federal spending in Nevada, which amounts to 17.7 of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is slightly below the national average of 19 percent, ranking the Silver State 30th among the 51 states and District of Columbia. Nevada ranks lower, however, in both the total amount and per capita Federal spending at 36th and 48th,… Read more
How does the Federal government compensate Nevada for lost property taxes on federal land?
While Nevada has the second highest number of acres of federal land in the country, it receives less Payments in Lieu of Taxes from the federal government than other, more populous states. The purpose of the Federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program is to help local governments offset the loss of property tax… Read more
Primer on Public Lands Transfer Process in Nevada
With more than 80 percent of Nevada’s lands under the control and management of the Federal Government, land transactions often require congressional acts for approval. This process can be complex and time consuming involving lengthy discussions between Federal, state, local government, and private industry officials and individuals. Various special acts of Congress have been required… Read more
Labor Day Musings: Are Nevada Colleges Meeting Future Workforce Needs?
Nevada’s Governor and Legislature have placed a high priority on diversifying Nevada’s economy with high technology industries to help grow the economy and minimize the impact of future recessions. This week, Ashima, a manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles, announced that it is planning to move its headquarters from California to Reno, Nevada. The company aims… Read more
New State GDP Numbers Show Turning Points in Nevada’s Economy
Another new release from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis provides prototype statistics of quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) by state for the years 2005 through 2013. The numbers furnish a more complete picture of the ups and downs, and turning points, in economic growth at the state level. The statistics include both current dollar… Read more
ACT Test Results Provide Insight into College Readiness of Nevada Students
Introduction Nevada ranks 46th in the nation in the percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher (American Community Survey, 2012). Only 22.4 percent of Nevada’s population age 25 years and older has a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to the U.S. average of 29.1 percent (see Figure 1). Higher levels of education are… Read more
Is Nevada’s Unemployment Rate Higher Than We Think?
On August 15, 2014, the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) announced that Nevada’s unemployment rate for July 2014 was 7.7 percent. The good news is that Nevada’s unemployment rate has been steadily declining since the high of 14.4 percent in 2010 (see Figure 1). However, the standard, official unemployment rate leaves out… Read more