Nevada Legislature

Legislative branch of the state government of Nevada

Nevada Legislature

83rd Nevada Legislature
Type
Type|

Bicameral

Houses| Senate
Assembly

Term limits

| Senate: 3 terms (12 years)
Assembly: 6 terms (12 years)
History

New session started

| February 2025
Leadership

President of the Senate

Stavros Anthony (R)
since January 2, 2023

President pro tempore of the Senate

Marilyn Dondero Loop (D)
since February 3, 2025

Speaker of the Assembly

Steve Yeager (D)
since February 6, 2023

Structure
Seats| 63

* 21 senators
* 42 representatives

Senate political groups

* Democratic (13)
* Republican (8)

Assembly political groups

* Democratic (27)
* Republican (15)

Length of term

| Senate: 4 years
Assembly: 2 years
Salary| $150.71/day + per diem
Elections

Last Senate election

| November 5, 2024
(11 seats)

Last Assembly election

| November 5, 2024

Next Senate election

| November 3, 2026

Next Assembly election

| November 3, 2026
Redistricting| Legislative control
Meeting place
Nevada State Legislature Building
Carson City
Website
Nevada Legislature
The Nevada State Legislature Building as seen from across South Carson Street.

39°09′43″N 119°45′58″W﻿ / ﻿39.16194°N 119.7661°W﻿ / 39.16194; -119.7661

The Nevada Legislature is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada, consisting of the Nevada Assembly (lower house with 42 members) and the Nevada Senate (upper house with 21 members). With a total of 63 seats, the Legislature is the third-smallest bicameral state legislature in the United States, after Alaska's (60 members) and Delaware's (62). The Nevada State Legislature as of 2019[update] is the first majority female State Legislature in the history of the United States.[1] As of 2025, the Democratic Party holds a majority in both chambers of the Nevada Legislature.

## History

[edit]

The Nevada Territorial Legislature was established upon creation of the Nevada Territory in 1861. It created the nine original counties during its first session outside Carson City.[2]

Nevada became a state under the Nevada Constitution of 1864, vests the legislative authority of the state in a Senate and Assembly, which are designated "The Legislature of the State of Nevada".[3] The legislature has the duty to establish the number of Senators and Assembly members and the legislative districts to which they are apportioned after each decennial census,[4][5] though the total number of legislators may not exceed 75.[6] The size of the Senate is tied to the size of the Assembly; the state constitution limits the Senate to no less than one-third and no greater than one-half of the size of the Assembly.[7]

Redistricting bills passed by the legislature after the 2010 US Census were vetoed by the governor, and the legislature was unable to override those vetoes.[8][9] Ultimately, Nevada's legislative districts as of 2011 were established by order of a state district court.[10] Since that time, Senate districts have been formed by combining two neighboring Assembly districts. Sadie Hurst (1857–1952) was the first woman elected to the Nevada Legislature (R-Washoe), in 1918.[11] When the legislature met in special session on February 7, 1920, to ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment, it was Hurst, the assemblywoman from Reno, who presented the resolution. She has the further distinction of being the first woman to preside over a state Legislature during the ratification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment.[12]

The 80th Nevada Legislature, as of 2019[update], is the first women-majority bicameral state legislature in U.S. history.[13] Two states have previously held a female majority in one legislative body.

### Meeting places

[edit]

Nevada State Capitol in 1875

For seven years after Nevada's admission as a U.S. state in 1864, the Nevada Legislature did not have a proper meeting place. In 1869, the Legislature passed the State Capitol Act, signed into law by Governor Henry G. Blasdel, providing $100,000 for the construction of a capitol building.[14] Under the supervision of designer Joseph Gosling, construction began on the Italianate building in 1870.[15] The Legislature convened in the unfinished state capitol building the following year, with construction completed by the middle of the year. The Legislature continued to meet in the state capitol until 1971, when both chambers moved to the Legislative Building constructed just south of the original capitol. The old state capitol continues to be the office of the governor and other executive branch officials. The former Assembly and Senate chambers are now museums, and available for meetings.[16]

## Construction

[edit]

Abraham Curry, the founder of Carson City, reserved an area equivalent to four city blocks (10 acres or 4.04 ha) at the center of the town for the future state capitol. When the Capitol building was constructed, it was naturally located on "the plaza", which had, some ten or eleven years earlier, been designated for it, and given for that purpose. Mark Twain wrote in his book Roughing It that the capitol site was in 1861 "a large, unfenced, level vacancy, with a liberty pole in it, and very useful as a place for public auctions, horse trades, mass meetings, and likewise for teamsters to camp in."

The "act to provide for the erection of a State Capitol" was passed by the Nevada Legislature and signed into law by Governor Henry G. Blasdel during 1869. The Board of Capitol Commissioners received bids of $84,000 to $160,000 for construction and they chose the lowest bid, submitted by Peter Cavanaugh and Son of Carson City. The 1869 act authorized $100,000 for construction, with money to come from a special tax levy, plus the proceeds from the sale of some public land. To reduce costs, the building sandstone was obtained free of charge from the Nevada State Prison quarry, just outside Carson City. In spite of this, the construction costs increased to some $170,000, exceeding even the high bid.

The cornerstone was laid on June 9, 1870. A brass box that served as a time capsule was deposited in the stone. The cornerstone was a solid block of sandstone, laid on top of blocks which contained the capsule. The capsule was inspected and returned to the cornerstone location (the northeast corner of the original building) during reconstruction in the 1979–81 period.

The fourth session of the state legislature met in the still-incomplete building at the beginning of 1871. Construction was completed by May 1, 1871. Several of the architect's original drawings are preserved in the state archives.

## Architecture

[edit]

Octagonal annex

The original building was cruciform, with a central rectangle 76 feet (23 m) wide by 85 feet (26 m) deep (23 x 25.8 m). It had two wings, each 35 feet (11 m) wide by 52 feet (16 m) deep (10.6 x 15.8 m). The windows' glass panes are made of 26-ounce (737 g) French crystal, as are those above the doors. Floors and wainscotting are of Alaskan marble, shipped to San Francisco in 20-ton (18,144 kg) blocks and there cut and polished for installation.

The first floor contained a major office at each corner connected by central halls, while the wings of the second floor were filled by the two legislative chambers—the Assembly and the Senate. The octagonal dome topped with a cupola admitted light to the second story. During 1906, an octagonal Annex was added to the rear (east) of the capitol to house the State Library.

By the early 20th century, the legislature had outgrown the capitol, and prominent Nevada architect Frederic DeLongchamps was contracted to design northern and southern legislative wing-annexes, completed in time for the 1915 session. These compatible wings used stone from the same quarry as the original portion of the capitol, and provided more office space and expanded legislative chambers.

## Usage

[edit]

For more than 50 years, all three parts of the state government were housed in the Capitol. The Supreme Court met here until 1937, when it relocated into an adjacent building, and the Nevada Legislature met here until 1971, when it relocated to its new Legislative Building just south of the Capitol. Every Nevada governor except the first has had his office in the capitol. Nowadays, the Capitol continues to serve the Governor, and contains historical exhibits on the second floor

## Terms of members

[edit]

Members of the Assembly are elected to a two-year term with term limits of six terms (12 years). Members of the Senate are elected to a four-year term and similarly face term limits of three terms (12 years). Term limits were amended to the Nevada Constitution following a voter referendum in 1996 as reflected in Nevada Constitution, Art. 4, Sec 4.[17]

## Sessions and qualifications

[edit]

Legislative sessions commence on the first Monday of February following the election of members of the Assembly.[18] The Legislature must adjourn sine die each regular session not later than midnight Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) 120 calendar days following its commencement.[19] Any legislative action taken after midnight PDT on the 120th calendar day is void unless it occurs during a special session convened by the Governor of Nevada. The governor is obligated to submit the proposed executive budget to the Legislature not later than 14 calendar days before the commencement of each regular session.

Sessions of the Legislature are biennial, occurring during odd number years. The Nevada Legislature is one of only four states that have biennial sessions, the others being Montana, North Dakota, and Texas.[20] However, two-thirds of the legislature or the governor may call a special session at any time. From 2014 to 2024, five special sessions were called, two in 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and the other three to ratify incentive packages for the Gigafactory, Allegiant Stadium, and the New Las Vegas Stadium.[21]

In order to be elected as a member in either chamber of the Legislature, a person must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years of age, a Nevada resident for one year, and a qualified voter in their residing district.[22]

## Standing Committees

[edit]

As of 18 July 2018[update].[23]

* Nevada Assembly Standing Committees
* Commerce and Labor
* Energy
* Committee of the Whole United States (National Congress)
* Corrections, Parole, and Probation
* Education
* Government Action
* Health and Human Services
* Judiciary
* Legislative Operations and Elections
* Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining
* Taxation
* Transportation
* Ways and Means
* Audit
* General Government
* Human Services
* K-12/Higher Education/CIP
* Public Safety, Natural Resources, and Transportation

* Nevada Senate Standing Committees
* Commerce, Labor, and Energy
* Energy
* Committee of the Whole
* Finance
* Audit
* General Government
* Human Services
* K-12/Higher Education/CIP
* Public Safety, Natural Resources, and Transportation
* Government Affairs
* Health and Human Services
* Judiciary
* Legislative Operations and Elections
* Natural Resources
* Revenue and Economic Development
* Senate Parliamentary Rules and Procedures
* Transportation

## Legislative Counsel Bureau

[edit]

The Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau consists of the Legislative Commission, an Interim Finance Committee, a Director, an Audit Division, a Fiscal Analysis Division, a Legal Division, a Research Division, and an Administrative Division.

## Police

[edit]

"Nevada State Legislative Police" redirects here; not to be confused with Nevada Capitol Police.

Law enforcement and security for the Legislature is provided by the Nevada Legislative Police, which is made up of full-time, year round police officers supported by temporary police officers brought in when the Legislature is in session.[24] They are separate to the Nevada Capitol Police.

## See also

[edit]

English Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Constitution of Nevada

* Nevada State Capitol
* Nevada Assembly
* Nevada Senate
* Diversity in the Nevada Legislature
* List of Nevada state legislatures
* List of state and territorial capitols in the United States

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Did first female-majority legislature in US make a difference?". BBC News. March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
2. ^ Green, Michael S. (2015). Nevada: A History of the Silver State. Reno: University of Nevada Press. p. 86\. ISBN 978-0-87417-973-6.
3. ^ "Nev. Const. art. 4, § 1". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
4. ^ "Nev. Const. art. 4, § 5". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
5. ^ "Chapter 218B - Legislative Districts". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
6. ^ "Nev. Const. art. 15, § 6". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
7. ^ "Nevada Constitution". Legislative Counsel Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
8. ^ "Redistricting in Nevada after the 2010 census". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
9. ^ Levitt, Justin. "Nevada". All About Redistricting. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
10. ^ "Guy v. Miller, No. 11-OC-00042-1B (Nev. First Jud. Dist. Ct. Oct. 27, 2011)" (PDF). All About Redistricting. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
11. ^ "Fact Sheet" (PDF). Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau. November 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
12. ^ Blackwell, Alice Stone (1919). The Woman Citizen (Public domain ed.). Leslie Woman Suffrage Commission. pp. 797, 1009–.
13. ^ "Nevada becomes first state with majority female Legislature". thenevadaindependent.com. December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
14. ^ "Historical Overview of the Nevada State Capitol and Capitol Annex" (PDF). publicworks.nv.gov. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
15. ^ "Nevada State Capitol | Carson City". www.carson.org. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
16. ^ "Nevada State Capitol Building Sesquicentennial Anniversary day". gov.nv.gov. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
17. ^ "Nev. Const. art. 4, § 4". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
18. ^ "Nev. Const. art. 4, § 2(1)". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
19. ^ "Nev. Const. art. 4, § 2(2)". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
20. ^ Legislatures, National Conference of State. "Annual versus Biennial Legislative Sessions". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
21. ^ Jackson, Hugh (January 3, 2024). "Lawmakers gear up for busy legislative sessions in 2024. Except in Nevada. • Nevada Current". Nevada Current. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
22. ^ "NRS: Chapter 218A - Legislative Department Generally". www.leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
23. ^ "Committees". asm.leg.state.nv.us. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
24. ^ "Legislative Police". www.leg.state.nv.us. Nevada Legislature. Retrieved December 18, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Nevada Legislature
* Facts about the State of Nevada
* Leaders and Members of the Assembly
* Leaders and Members of the Senate
* Nevada Legislature Records. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Nevada State Senate

83rd Legislature (2025)

President of the Senate
Stavros Anthony (R)
President pro tempore
Marilyn Dondero Loop (D)
Majority Leader
Nicole Cannizzaro (D)
Minority Leader
Robin Titus (R)

1. ▌Michelee Crawford (D)
2. ▌Edgar Flores (D)
3. ▌Rochelle Nguyen (D)
4. ▌Dina Neal (D)
5. ▌Carrie Buck (R)
6. ▌Nicole Cannizzaro (D)
7. ▌Roberta Lange (D)
8. ▌Marilyn Dondero Loop (D)
9. ▌Melanie Scheible (D)
10. ▌Fabian Doñate (D)
11. ▌Lori Rogich (R)
12. ▌Julie Pazina (D)
13. ▌Skip Daly (D)
14. ▌Ira Hansen (R)
15. ▌Angie Taylor (D)
16. ▌Lisa Krasner (R)
17. ▌Robin Titus (R)
18. ▌John Steinbeck (R)
19. ▌John Ellison (R)
20. ▌Jeff Stone (R)
21. ▌James Ohrenschall (D)

* ▌Democratic (13)
* ▌Republican (8)

* Nevada Legislature
* Nevada Assembly
* Nevada Senate
* List of past legislatures

* v
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* e

Members of the Nevada State Assembly

82nd Legislature (2023)

Speaker of the Assembly
Steve Yeager (D)
Speaker pro tempore
Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D)
Majority Leader
Sandra Jauregui (D)
Minority Leader
P. K. O'Neill (R)

1. ▌Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D)
2. ▌Heidi Kasama (R)
3. ▌Selena Torres (D)
4. ▌Richard McArthur (R)
5. ▌Brittney Miller (D)
6. ▌Shondra Summers-Armstrong (D)
7. ▌Vacant
8. ▌Duy Nguyen (D)
9. ▌Steve Yeager (D)
10. ▌Vacant
11. ▌Bea Duran (D)
12. ▌Max Carter (D)
13. ▌Brian Hibbetts (R)
14. ▌Erica Mosca (D)
15. ▌Howard Watts III (D)
16. ▌Cecelia González (D)
17. ▌Clara Thomas (D)
18. ▌Venicia Considine (D)
19. ▌Toby Yurek (R)
20. ▌David Orentlicher (D)
21. ▌Elaine Marzola (D)
22. ▌Melissa Hardy (R)
23. ▌Danielle Gallant (R)
24. ▌Sarah Peters (D)
25. ▌Selena La Rue Hatch (D)
26. ▌Rich DeLong (R)
27. ▌Angie Taylor (D)
28. ▌Reuben D'Silva (D)
29. ▌Lesley Cohen (D)
30. ▌Natha Anderson (D)
31. ▌Jill Dickman (R)
32. ▌Alexis Hansen (R)
33. ▌Bert Gurr (R)
34. ▌Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod (D)
35. ▌Michelle Gorelow (D)
36. ▌Gregory Hafen II (R)
37. ▌Shea Backus (D)
38. ▌Gregory Koenig (R)
39. ▌Ken Gray (R)
40. ▌P. K. O'Neill (R)
41. ▌Sandra Jauregui (D)
42. ▌Tracy Brown-May (D)

* ▌Democratic (26)
* ▌Republican (14)
* ▌Vacant (2)

* Nevada Legislature
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* Nevada Senate
* List of past legislatures

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