Nevada State Legislature
| Nevada State Legislature | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | Senate: 3 terms (12 years); Assembly: 6 terms (12 years) |
| Session start: | No regular legislative session |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Stavros S. Anthony (R) |
| House Speaker: | Steve Yeager (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Nicole Cannizzaro (D) House: Sandra Jauregui (D) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Heidi Gansert (R) House: Philip O'Neill (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 21 (Senate), 42 (Assembly) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (Assembly) |
| Authority: | Art 4, Nevada Constitution |
| Salary: | $130/legislative day + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting: | Legislature-dominant |
The Nevada State Legislature is the state legislature of Nevada. The Legislature is a bicameral body, consisting of the Nevada State Assembly, with 42 members, and the Nevada State Senate, with 21 members.
The Legislature meets at the Nevada State Capital in Carson City.
Nevada has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.
- See also: Nevada State Assembly, Nevada State Senate, Nevada Governor
Elections
2024
Elections for the Nevada State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is June 11, 2024. The filing deadline is March 15, 2024.
Elections for the Nevada State Assembly will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is June 11, 2024. The filing deadline is March 15, 2024.
2022
Elections for the Nevada State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 14, 2022. The filing deadline was March 18, 2022.
Elections for the Nevada State Assembly took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 14, 2022. The filing deadline was March 18, 2022.
2020
Elections for the office of Nevada State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 9, 2020. The filing deadline was March 13, 2020.
Elections for the office of Nevada State Assembly took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 9, 2020. The filing deadline was March 13, 2020.
2018
Elections for the Nevada State Senate took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on June 12, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2018.[1]
Elections for the Nevada State Assembly took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on June 12, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2018.[2]
2016
Elections for the Nevada State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 18, 2016.
Elections for the Nevada State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 18, 2016.
2014
Elections for the Nevada State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014.
Elections for the Nevada State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014.
2012
Elections for the office of Nevada State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 12, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2012.
Elections for the office of Nevada State Assembly took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 12, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Nevada State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 12, 2010.
Elections for the office of Nevada State Assembly took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 12, 2010.
Sessions
When the Nevada Constitution was adopted, its fourth article established when the Legislature was to be in session. However, Section 29 of Article 4, the section that dealt with legislative sessions, was repealed by voters in the 1958 general election. The session dates for the Nevada Legislature are no longer limited by the Nevada Constitution.
2024
- See also: Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature will not hold a regular session.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 6, 2023, and adjourn on June 5, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. |
|---|
2022
In 2022, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 1, 2021, and adjourn on June 1, 2021. 2020
In 2020, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from February 4, 2019, through June 3, 2019. 2018
In 2018, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from February 6, 2017, through June 5, 2017. 2016
In 2016, the Legislature did not hold a regular session. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from February 2 through June 1. The legislature held a four-day special session from December 16 to December 19 on tax abatements and tax credits.[3] Major issues in 2015Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included business licensing fees, construction defect reform, organized labor reform, education reform, Voter ID, legalizing recreational marijuana, and economic development.[4] 2014
In 2014, the Legislature did not hold a regular session. 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from February 4 to June 3. Major issues in 2013Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included taxes, state's tax structure, spending, medicare, and gun control.[5] 2012
In 2012, the Legislature did not hold a regular session. 2011In 2011, the legislature was in session from February 7 through June 6.[6] 2010In 2010, the Legislature was not in regular session. However, the Legislature did meet in 2010 for a special session, which lasted from February 23rd to March 1st.[7] |
Role in state budget
- See also: Nevada state budget and finances
Nevada on 
|
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle that starts July 1 of each biennium. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[8]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in March.
- Agencies submit their requests to the governor by September 1.
- The governor submits the budget to the Nevada State Legislature in January.
- The legislature passes a budget in June. A simple majority is needed to pass a budget.
In Nevada, the governor does not have line-item veto power. However, the governor can veto an appropriations bill in its entirety.[8]
The governor is required by statute to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.[8]
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $130/legislative day | The exact amount members receive for per diem is unknown. |
When sworn in
Nevada legislators assume office on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November (the day after election day).[9]
Senate
The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature. The Senate consists of 21 members from 19 districts, two of which are multimember.
As of the 2020 Census, Nevada state senators represented an average of 148,022 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 129,021 residents.
Senators serve four-year terms. Term limits, limiting senators to three 4-year terms (12 years), took effect in 2010.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 13 | |
| Republican Party | 7 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 21 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the Nevada State Senate in 2016. In 2022, they won a 13-8 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Nevada Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Nevada State Senate election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
| Republicans | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Assembly
The Nevada Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada Legislature. As in neighboring California, the lower house of the legislature is referred to as an "Assembly" rather than the more common "House of Representatives." The body consists of 42 members, elected to two-year terms from single-member districts.
As of the 2020 Census, Nevada state representatives represented an average of 74,011 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 64,510 residents.
Term limits, limiting assemblymembers to six 2-year terms (12 years), took effect in 2010.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 27 | |
| Republican Party | 14 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 42 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the Nevada State Assembly in 2016. In 2022, they won a 28-14 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Nevada State Assembly following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Nevada State Assembly election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 29 | 21* | 25 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 15 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 28 |
| Republicans | 13 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 27 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 14 |
District maps
State Senate
State Assembly
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Nevada are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers
| Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 28 of the 42 members in the Nevada State Assembly and 14 of the 21 members in the Nevada State Senate. Nevada is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| Vetoes can be overridden in a special session or when the next regular session convenes.[10] Two-thirds of members in both chambers must agree to call for a special session.[11] |
Authority: Article 4, Section 35 of the Nevada Constitution
| "Every bill which may have passed the Legislature, shall, before it becomes a law be presented to the Governor. If he approve it, he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it with his objections, to the House in which it originated, which House shall cause such objections to be entered upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider it; If after such reconsideration it again pass both Houses by yeas and nays, by a vote of two thirds of the members elected to each House it shall become a law notwithstanding the Governors objections." |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
Nevada State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Nevada State Senate for the last six years while the Republicans were the majority for the first 16 years. Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Nevada State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Nevada State House of Representatives for the last 20 years while the Republicans were never the majority. The Nevada State House of Representatives is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Nevada, the Nevada State Senate and the Nevada State Assembly from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Nevada state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the study, Nevada had one Democratic trifecta during 1992. The state's SQLI rankings were high for the majority of the study, finishing in the top-10 from 1996-1997 and from 2005-2006. However, Nevada's SQLI ranking declined from then on, finishing 46th in 2012. Both its highest and lowest rankings occurred when the government was divided between Democratic and Republican control.
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Nevada
In Nevada, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. The lines are subject to veto by the governor.[12]
Under a state law enacted in 2019, state prison inmates are counted as residents of their home addresses for redistricting purposes.[13]
2020
Governor Steve Sisolak (D) signed new legislative maps into law on November 16, 2021.[14] These maps took effect for Nevada's 2022 legislative elections. On November 14, 2021, the Nevada State Senate voted 12-9 to approve the Democratic congressional and legislative map proposals.[15] On November 16, the Nevada State Assembly voted 25-17 to approve the maps.[16]
2010
Nevada received its local Census data on February 24, 2011. At a 35.1 percent rate of growth, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the United States from 2000 to 2010. The state's five most populous each grew: Las Vegas grew by 22.0 percent, Henderson grew by 47.0 percent, Reno grew by 24.8 percent, North Las Vegas grew by 87.9 percent, and Sparks grew by 36.1 percent.[17]
Democrats controlled the Legislature, while Gov. Brian Sandoval was a Republican. The Legislature failed to finish new maps and a court-appointed panel of three special masters took over. New maps were finalized on December 8, 2011, and no challenges were made.[18]
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Nevada Constitution can be amended:
The Nevada Constitution can be amended via three different paths: a constitutional convention, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment or an initiated constitutional amendment.
Initiative
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. There are 18 states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
In Nevada, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the total number of votes cast in the preceding general election. A simple majority vote in two consecutive elections is required for voter approval.
Legislature
A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Nevada State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 22 votes in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 votes in the Nevada State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Convention
According to Section 2 of Article 16 of the Nevada Constitution, a two-thirds vote of the Nevada State Legislature is required to refer a constitutional convention question to the ballot. A simple majority vote of the electorate is required to call a convention.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures were certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature.
- See also: Nevada 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures were certified for the ballot.
- Nevada Question 1, Remove Constitutional Status of Board of Regents Amendment (2024)
- Nevada Question 4, Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment (2024)
- Nevada Question 2, Revising Language Related to Public Entities for Individuals with Mental Illness, Blindness, or Deafness Amendment (2024)
See also
| Elections | Nevada State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Clark County NV, "2018 state/federal elections," accessed August 3, 2017
- ↑ Clark County NV, "2018 state/federal elections," accessed August 3, 2017
- ↑ Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Nevada legislators flock to special session for Faraday," accessed December 17, 2015
- ↑ Las Vegas Review Journal, "Five (other) big issues for the 2015 Nevada Legislature," accessed February 2, 2015
- ↑ Kolotv.com, "Nev. Legislature convenes Monday with uncertainty," February 2, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ Nevada Constitution, "Article 4, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Nevada Legislature, "Vetoes and Special Sessions," accessed July 3, 2017
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Special Sessions," May 6, 2009
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Nevada," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Prison Policy Initiative, "Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signs law ending prison gerrymandering," May 31, 2019
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgovsign - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedsenateadv - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedsb1 - ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Nevada's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Nevada Legislature, "2011 Reapportionment and Redistricting Home," accessed February 9, 2021
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