In Carson City, our state lawmakers have been busy passing bills through their first committees. Many of these bills might worry folks who care about limited government and traditional values.
School Board Pay Skyrockets
One bill that’s moving forward is AB156. This bill would make School Board members’ pay the same as County Commissioners in Clark County. Right now, School Board members make $9,000 a year. But County Commissioners make between $56,000 and $131,000!
The bill got even worse when they changed it to include ALL counties in Nevada. It also lets appointed School Board members vote just like elected ones.
This is a massive pay increase that taxpayers will have to fund. Many citizens are asking why part-time School Board members should make as much as full-time County Commissioners.
Supporters claim the higher pay will attract better candidates. Critics worry it’s just growing government and spending more tax dollars without improving education.
Parents Losing Rights in Education
Two bills aim to reduce how much say parents have in their kids’ education.
AB205 would change sex education from “opt in” to “opt out.” Right now, parents must sign a form saying “yes” before their child can take sex ed. The new bill would automatically enroll all kids unless parents specifically say no.
Many conservative parents believe they should always have the first say in sensitive topics like sex education. Making it “opt out” means some kids will be exposed to material their parents never approved.
AB416 would give librarians the final say on what books stay in school and public libraries. If parents object to materials they consider pornographic, their only option would be going to court. This takes power away from elected officials like School Board members and County Commissioners.
More Government, More Spending
Several bills would expand government programs and spending:
AB268 would create universal free breakfast and lunch for all school children, costing taxpayers over $33 million for two years. Clark County already has this program.
While no one wants children to go hungry, this is another example of government taking over what used to be a family responsibility. It represents one more way the state is replacing parents’ traditional roles.
SB234 was originally going to provide Medicaid for illegal immigrants at a cost of $61 million. It was amended to only cover those under 21 who have cancer or need kidney transplants.
Higher Taxes on the Way?
AB530 would allow Clark County to continue gas tax increases for another 10 years without voter approval. The County Commission could do this with a two-thirds vote.
Even more concerning to homeowners, AJR1 (Assembly Joint Resolution 1) is a constitutional amendment that would remove Nevada’s property tax cap and the requirement for equal and uniform property taxes.
This could open the door to much higher property taxes for Nevada homeowners. Our constitution currently protects us from the kind of runaway property taxes we see in other states.
Understanding Nevada’s Constitutional Amendment Process
In Nevada, changing our state constitution isn’t easy—and that’s on purpose. For amendments like AJR1 that would remove our property tax cap, the process takes years to complete.
Here’s how it works: First, the amendment must pass through both houses of the legislature (Assembly and Senate) during one legislative session. Then, the same exact amendment must pass again in the next legislative session after a general election. Only after passing twice through the legislature does it go to voters for final approval.
Right now, AJR1 is indeed in its first session. According to recent information, this version of AJR1 (the property tax amendment) has only passed its first committee in the current 2025 session and would need to pass both full houses. If successful, it would then need to pass again in the 2027 session before going to voters in the November 2028 election.
This is different from other AJR1 proposals from past sessions. In 2021, there was a different constitutional amendment also called “AJR1” that dealt with mining taxes, not property taxes. Bill numbers get reused in different legislative sessions, which can sometimes cause confusion.
The multi-session process was designed by Nevada’s founders to make sure constitutional changes aren’t made in haste.
What You Can Do
These bills have only passed their first committee and will need to be voted on by the full Senate or Assembly. Then they’ll go to the other house for committee hearings.
If you’re worried about these bills:
- Contact your state Senator and Assembly member
- Attend public hearings when these bills are discussed
- Share information with friends and neighbors
- Write letters to local newspapers
Many bills die before becoming law, but only if citizens speak up. The lawmakers pushing these bills are counting on you not paying attention.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
