(Chuck Muth) – With the Nevada Legislature gearing up for its next session, some lawmakers have decided the biggest problem facing our state is…heat.
Yep, you read that right. Instead of tackling some of Nevada’s most serious problems – especially our failing schools – they’re focusing on how hot it gets in the summer.
Assemblywoman Cinthia Zermeño Moore and Senator Dina Neal are leading the charge on bills aimed at protecting Nevadans from extreme heat. They want to address things like the so-called “heat island effect” and workplace heat exposure.
While keeping workers safe is important, let’s be honest—this feels like another case of government overreach and misplaced priorities.
Moore, who used to be an environmental activist before running for office, says her motivation comes from personal experience. Her uncle works in construction and suffered from heat illness.
That’s unfortunate, but does it really justify expanding government regulations and spending more taxpayer dollars? Shouldn’t businesses and individuals be responsible for making smart decisions about heat safety?
One of Moore’s proposed bills would prevent utility companies from shutting off power during extreme weather. While that might sound nice on the surface, it raises a big question: who’s going to pay for it?
If customers can’t pay their bills, should private companies be forced to foot the bill indefinitely? It’s another example of politicians trying to turn utilities into welfare programs.
Moore insists, “Having access to the air conditioner is not a luxury. It’s a need. It’s a necessity.”
But shouldn’t personal responsibility come into play here? Budgeting for essential expenses—like power bills—is part of adulting.
Nevada already has protections in place, preventing power shut-offs when temperatures hit 105 degrees. Apparently, that’s not enough for these lawmakers.
They argue that anything above 90 degrees can be dangerous. But in Nevada, it’s above 90 degrees for half the year! Should we expect utilities to just eat the cost for months on end?
Meanwhile, Senator Edgar Flores wants to expand protections for workers during wildfire season by creating air quality standards.
Construction industry leaders acknowledge smoke can be an issue, but is this something government needs to regulate, or should it be handled by individual businesses and their employees?
Flores says he’s heard stories about workers breathing in smoke from fires miles away. But let’s be real—most businesses already take precautions.
More government red tape isn’t the answer. And once again, who’s going to enforce all these new rules? More bureaucrats, more spending, and ultimately, more costs passed down to hardworking taxpayers.
And then there’s Senator Neal’s “omnibus” environmental justice bill. This one’s a doozy.
It aims to funnel state infrastructure funds into heat mitigation projects, targeting areas affected by urban heat islands—basically, places with lots of concrete and asphalt.
But let’s face it, Las Vegas is a desert. It’s going to be hot no matter how many trees you plant or how many millions you spend.
Critics of these proposals argue that Nevada has far bigger fish to fry. Should the Legislature really be prioritizing feel-good climate bills when so many Nevadans are struggling with the basics?
And let’s not forget the costs.
Every new regulation and government program means more taxpayer money down the drain. Nevadans are already dealing with rising costs of living, and now lawmakers want to add to that burden with expensive new mandates and projects.
Of course, supporters of these bills argue that climate change is a pressing issue and that extreme heat is a public health crisis.
But is it really the government’s job to fix the weather? Maybe it’s time for lawmakers to focus on real problems and let Nevadans take responsibility for their own lives.
Bottom line: Instead of wasting time and money on trivial heat bills, our lawmakers should focus on what really matters. If they don’t, voters might just decide to turn up the heat on them come election time.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
