Nevada Senate Minority Leader Robin Titus, R-Wellington, says she won’t back Governor Joe Lombardo’s potential plan to revive transferable film-tax credits for a proposed movie-studio project in Las Vegas, even as he considers recalling lawmakers for a special session later this year.
Lombardo has said he will summon the Legislature back to Carson City but hasn’t set a date or released an agenda. Many expect him to revisit the failed proposal to aid Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the Howard Hughes Corporation in building a Hollywood-style production complex in Summerlin. The plan sought about $100 million in transferable tax credits over fifteen years.
Titus Opposed to Tax-Credit Revival
“If that’s the issue, I’m more convinced even now that they are not good for Nevada,” Titus said on Nevada Newsmakers.
“I’ve done a lot of homework and tried to keep an open mind.”
She said she understands Lombardo’s goal of restoring construction jobs—Nevada has lost more than 2,000 over the past year—but she wants what she calls a sustainable jobs bill.
“The governor really wants this to be a jobs bill … but I want it to be a sustainable jobs bill, and there’s a difference there.”
Other Paths to Growth
Titus favors using the state infrastructure bank for loans or grants with accountability built in.
“Just giving transferable tax credits to somebody — we only have to look at the Apex project … to know what a disaster some of that stuff could be.”
Her research included Georgia’s film-credit program; she arranged a call between her caucus and a Georgia Republican senator to discuss its impact.
“I wanted to know … and not get my information from lobbyists,” she said.
Waiting on Votes — and Washington
Titus believes Lombardo hasn’t scheduled the session because he’s still counting votes.
“There’s really a possibility we won’t have a special session until the governor figures out what he’s going to call it for and he has the votes … we’ll move along faster if they finally decide to leave the film tax out.”
She added that the ongoing federal government shutdown is another obstacle. With federal dollars making up 27.7 percent of Nevada’s budget—about $14.8 billion—uncertainty over Medicaid, highways, and education funds complicates planning.
“I don’t see how we could have a special session until we see what happens with the federal government,” she said.
Crime Legislation Could Return
If a session is called, Titus expects Lombardo to revive pieces of his crime bill that failed earlier this year, including tougher penalties for DUIs, “smash-and-grab” thefts, and school-safety provisions.
“We have to support our small businesses … we can’t just keep releasing folks back to the street,” she said.
Working Relationship
Despite policy differences, Titus says she and Lombardo remain close allies.
“The governor and I have a good relationship and we can be honest and fair with each other when nobody else is in the room,” she said.
Only the governor can call a special session, though lawmakers could do so with a two-thirds vote in both chambers—a threshold rarely met.
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