Titus Urges Recognition of Rural Needs After Session Setbacks

While State Senator Robin Titus was successful in getting several bills passed during the 83rd Nevada Legislative Session, she expressed disappointment in those that didn’t make it out of committee.

A medical doctor by trade, Titus is passionate about public health and co-sponsored two bills that would have established social worker and nursing apprentice programs. She said the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services will continue the search for funding for the nursing apprentice program, and some of the bills that did pass will assist with educating and recruiting social workers in the state.

Titus was also unsuccessful in establishing a task force to research Nevada’s reliance on California fuel (SB505). She said currently, 90% of Nevada’s fuel comes from California. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports there are 13 operating refineries in California, down from 40 in 1983.

Titus said SB505 was "hugely popular" but never received a hearing. However, Governor Joe Lombardo told her a successful bill wasn’t needed to create a blue-ribbon task force, and asked his staff to assist in the effort. Titus is now setting up meetings with representatives in Texas, Arizona, and Utah to explore fuel access alternatives for Nevada.

“How do we get away from being dependent on the California refineries?” she asked.

One of the bills that did pass, SB108, adds more funding to the Account for the Channel Clearance, Maintenance, Restoration, Surveying and Monumenting program. The fund, which supports grants to clear river channels following flooding, is particularly relevant to areas like the Carson River and Lahontan Reservoir. Titus’s bill increases the available funds from $250,000 to $500,000. She said past grants were sometimes delayed for years due to project timelines, such as repairs at Cave Lake, and the increased funding may help applicants also pursue matching federal grants.

Two bills that would have benefited small northern Nevada towns were also shut down. SB232 sought funding to build a community center in Virginia City, while AB388 would have provided funds for an elementary school in White Pine County.

Titus attributed the failure of several rural-focused bills to a north-south divide in the legislature. Approximately 68% of Nevada legislators represent Clark County, and Titus said those lawmakers often control the committee schedules and deny hearings for rural initiatives.

Of the 605 bills that passed the legislature, Governor Lombardo vetoed 87. He also vetoed 75 bills during the 2023 session, totaling 162 vetoes in his first term—surpassing the previous record of 97 vetoes across two terms by former Governor Brian Sandoval.

Titus was elected Senate Minority Leader by the Senate Republican Caucus in January 2024 following Senator Heidi Gansert’s decision not to seek reelection. She was re-elected to the leadership position after the November 2024 election.

“They chose to keep me as the leader after the November election, and hopefully they choose to keep me again because I’m running for reelection next year,” she said. “We’re going to work hard, and I feel strongly that the Republicans can be in the majority next election. To that end, that’s what I’m working for.”

When asked about her off-season plans, Titus replied, “Politics!” After a short vacation, she plans to attend several leadership conferences and begin recruiting Republican candidates for the 2026 election. She also continues to serve as the Lyon County Health Officer and works with the Lyon County School District.