A recall petition seeking to remove Democratic Senator Joyce Woodhouse has enough valid signatures to force a recall election according to the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office.

The recall petition was filed in August by a former Nevada Republican Assemblyman with no reason cited. State democrats are fighting the recall efforts with a “Decline to sign” campaign as well as a federal Voting Rights Act lawsuit filed on behalf of five voters seeking to end the recall before a special election could occur.

Attorneys fighting the recall efforts assert the recall would undermine a republican form of government by threatening to upend the undisputed results of legitimate and regularly scheduled elections.

Two other Nevada Republican-led recall campaigns targeting both Democratic and Independent state senators have signature deadlines this month.

A former Nevada Republican Assemblyman filed a recall petition with the Nevada Secretary of State this month seeking to recall Democratic Senator Joyce Woodhouse and replace her with her Republican opponent from the 2016 election.

Under Nevada law, petitioners are not required to give a reason for submitting a recall petition. Although no reason was cited in the filed petition, a registered voter said a signature-gatherer seeking support for the petition stated it stemmed from Sen. Joyce’s support of a sanctuary city bill during the 2016 legislative session.

The petition needs signatures from 25 percent of the voters who cast a ballot in the Senate District 5 election in 2016 to have a special election.

The 79^th session of the Nevada Legislature adjourned just after midnight local time on Tuesday, June 6, 2017.

A package of budget bills was passed, resolving a stalemate many thought would not be resolved by the end of the regular session.

Legislators also pushed through a clean energy bill and one requiring additional oversight of drivers for ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft.

A new lobbying law took effect on January 1, 2017, requiring lobbyists to register with the city clerk, to inform the city of their clients, and to wear lobbyist badges when in City Hall.

The ordinance also includes civil and criminal penalties for registration violations. The Registration and Regulation of Lobbyists ordinance adopted by the Reno City Council on October 12, 2016, is the first law requiring lobbyist registration in the City of Reno.

The Nevada Legislature adjourned a four-day special session sine die on October 14, 2016.

Lawmakers approved a bill allocating funding for an NFL stadium and the expansion of a convention center in Las Vegas as well as a bill to fund the hiring of more than 300 police officers.

Gov. Brian Sandoval is expected to sign the bills Monday, October 17.

On October 12, the City Council adopted a new lobbying law for the city of Reno, Nevada.

The Registration and Regulation of Lobbyists ordinance requires lobbyists to register with the city clerk, to inform the city of their clients, and to wear lobbyist badges when in City Hall. The ordinance also includes civil and criminal penalties.

The new law will take effect on January 1, 2017.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has called a special legislative session beginning October 10 to discuss the proposed Las Vegas football stadium for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.

The session is expected to also address education funding for the upcoming biennium, expansion of the Clark County convention center, and a sales tax increase for additional police in southern Nevada.

Photo of the Nevada Legislative Building by Dave Parker on Wikimedia Commons.

On September 28, the Reno, Nevada, City Council moved one step closer to creating a lobbying law for the city. The council unanimously agreed to put the proposed ordinance over to October 12 for a second reading and adoption.

The “Registration and Regulation of Lobbyists” ordinance would require lobbyists to register with the city clerk, to inform the city of their clients, and to wear lobbyist badges when in city hall. The ordinance also includes civil and criminal penalties.

If passed, the code change will take effect on January 1, 2017.

Gov. Brian Sandoval plans to call a special legislative session in early October to approve an estimated $1.9 billion stadium funding plan. The Southern Nevada Tourism Committee is working with the Oakland Raiders and a group of private developers to bring the first professional football team and major events arena to Las Vegas. In addition, vacancies needing to be filled in the Legislature make a special session likely.

Legislators have expressed concern about holding a special session so close to the November 8 general election in part because lawmakers are prohibited from receiving campaign contributions during a legislative session and for 15 days after adjournment.

Gov. Sandoval will decide whether to call the session once he reviews the committee’s recommendations and all questions have been answered. If called, the special legislative session would be the 30th in Nevada’s 152-year history.

Photo of the Nevada State Legislature by Ryans Jerz on Wikimedia Commons. 

On August 10, the Reno, Nevada City Council and the City Charter Committee met to discuss a possible new lobbying law.

The City Charter Committee recommended adding a new lobbying law to the city charter unless the City Council passes a lobbying law through an ordinance before this fall’s November general election. While the City Council considered adopting an ordinance earlier this year, the Charter Committee “feels that the remaining three months until the general election is ample time for Council to formally approve a lobbyist registration system,” according to the Charter Committee’s Final Report and Recommendations presented at the meeting.

Also addressed at the meeting were the filing frequency of campaign finance reports by candidates for public office; ward-only voting for primary, general, and special elections; and other city issues.

On May 25, the Reno City Council unanimously voted to defer the question of whether to pass a lobbying law for the city. Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve objected to the ordinance because it only applied to city council members and not to city staff employees, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The “Registration and Regulation of Lobbyists” ordinance would require lobbyists to register with the city clerk, to inform the city of their clients, and to wear a lobbyist badge when in city hall. The ordinance also includes civil and criminal penalties.

On May 25, the Reno City Council will consider requiring lobbyist to register with the city. At tomorrow’s council meeting, an ordinance is being introduced entitled “Registration and Regulation of Lobbyists.”

The ordinance would require lobbyists to register with the city clerk, to inform the city of their clients, and to wear a lobbyist badge when in city hall. The ordinance also includes civil and criminal penalties.

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Senators Credit KOB As They Pass Campaign Finance System Reform” by Ryan Luby for KOB

Campaign Finance

New Mexico: “‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Bill Dies in Final Days of Session” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth

Washington: “State: Food industry lobby engaged in ‘egregious’ money laundering in 2013 vote” by Joel Connelly for Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Ethics

Alaska: “Former Juneau Lawmaker Fined $18K for Allegedly Helping Oil Companies While Seeking Oil Jobs” by Matt Miller for KTOO

Missouri: “Gutting of Lobbying Bill Clouds Ethics Agenda’s Future” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Missouri: “Missouri Rep. Don Gosen Abruptly Resigns under Cloud of Suspicion” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

New York: “Former Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak Accused of Sexually Harassing Staffers Is Fined $100G by Legislative Ethics Commission” by Kenneth Lovett for New York Daily News

Ohio: “Ginther’s Ethics Proposals Get Public Hearing” by Mike Foley for WCBE

Texas: “Reports: Indicted Crystal City mayor jailed after disrupted council meeting” by Claire Cardona for Dallas Morning News

Virginia: “Virginia Taxpayers Pick Up $2,435 Food and Beer Bill for Mystery Guests in Redskins Suite” by Graham Moomaw for Richmond Times-Dispatch

Elections

“Fall of the House of Bush: How last name and Donald Trump doomed Jeb” by Ed O’Keefe, Dan Balz and Matea Gold for the Washington Post

“Sanders Supporters Like Chipotle, While Trump Fans Prefer Sonic” by Tim Higgins for Bloomberg.com

“Bernie’s Army of Coders” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico

“Pope Francis Suggests Donald Trump Is ‘Not Christian’” by Jim Yardley for The New York Times

Nevada: “Hillary Clinton Beats Bernie Sanders in Nevada Caucuses” by Amy Chozick and Patrick Healy for The New York Times

South Carolina “The More Donald Trump Defies His Party, the More His Supporters Cheer” by Trip Gabriel for The New York Times

South Carolina: “Donald Trump’s South Carolina Victory Spurs New G.O.P. Jostling” by Maggie Haberman and Alan Rappeport for The New York Times

On December 19, the Nevada Legislature adjourned its four day special session sine die. Four bills passed facilitating a move to bring the electric car manufacturer Faraday Future to Nevada. The legislation has already been signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Photo of the Nevada Legislative Building by Dave Parker on Wikimedia Commons.