Legislative Session Ends with Important Legislation on Education, Economic Development and Technology

By Ben Kieckhefer —  The sprint to the finish line of the Nevada legislative session always means late nights, long hours and last-minute legislation. But this session was even more of a scramble than usual. The senate and assembly endured an avalanche of end-of-session legislation — some of it of the utmost important to Nevada residents. Education funding and other critical legislation was dropped in the laps of legislators at the last moment by the Democrats controlling both houses, making it incredibly hard to fully vet the new funding measures. You could say this is business as usual for a part-time legislature that meets once every two years, but having very limited time to examine such important legislation is very disappointing. Hopefully, our lawmakers can do better in the future, allowing ample time to review, discuss and perfect important legislation. Despite those challenges — and many others, including the unexpected loss of a beloved assemblyman and the resignation of two Democrats for allegations of campaign finance issues and sexual harassment complaints — the session was filled with a lot of hard work and some landmark accomplishments. I was honored to pass eight separate bills during the session on a wide variety of topics. Combined, these bills on blockchain technology, economic development, student scholarships, and organ donation represent a wide range of legislation that makes our economy, education system and communities stronger. Here is a quick look at several of the bills I authored or sponsored, and how they will affect Nevada residents. • Governor Guinn Memorial Scholarships I was very excited to see this additional support to Nevada students pass the legislature. Never underestimate what a small investment in our ambitious young Nevadans can do for our economy and our communities. By doubling the number of Memorial Millennium scholarship from two to four, this legislation will change the lives of the students who receive them and support new teachers entering the classroom. • Blockchain Bills Blockchain has been a primary focus of mine, and while the topic can be confusing for some, it is shaping up to be a powerful force in our economy that will grow over time. Nevada can lead in this promising area, and I believe my legislation sets the state up to do just that. Here’s a quick look at the four bills. • Organ Donation Oversight This bill adds necessary oversight to non-transplant organ and tissue donation organizations. This oversight will ensure that Nevadans who give the gift of life can be confident they will be treated with respect and dignity. • General Improvement District Property Sales This legislation sets up procedures for general improvement district that sell property they own, ensuring that a proper appraisal and pricing process is followed, and a public meeting is held. • Economic Development Tax Credits This bill ensures the legislature gets the chance to review any large economic development project that awards millions of dollars worth of transferable tax credits to a company moving to Nevada. While the 2019 Legislative Session is over, big issues loom for the next one. Redistricting will be decided in the 2021 Legislative Session, and this will have long-term impacts on the political future of the state and how the residents of Nevada are represented. This makes the question of who controls the state senate and assembly in the next session more important than ever. ~ Ben Kieckhefer is the Nevada State Senator for District 16, which includes Carson City, parts of Washoe County and Incline Village. He was first elected in 2010.     Sign up to receive updates and the Friday File email notices. Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon.