Allowing a state lottery, limiting number of balloons released in a day and outlawing road rage are among 300 bills that died in 2025 Nevada Legislature
By Mark Robison, Reno Gazette Journal, April 15, 2025
The Nevada Legislature just let die over a quarter of the bills it was considering — from allowing a state lottery and making its own actions more transparent to limiting how many balloons can be released in a day.
Here’s a look at a few of the approximately 300 out of 1,200 bills that died but were noteworthy, whether quirky or serious.
Outlawing the release of balloons
Sponsored by Assemblymember Sandra Jauregui, Assembly Bill 194 would’ve outlawed intentionally releasing more than 10 helium balloons in one day.
If released indoors, the perpetrator would not have been subject to the $250 penalty.
The problem being addressed: Balloons getting tangled in power lines.
It wasn’t clear how law enforcement would’ve tracked a balloon in a power line back to a specific person and then determined whether nine additional balloons had also been set free at the same time.
Allowing Nevadans to vote on a state lottery
Democrats went against the powerful Culinary Workers Union to doom a resolution that would’ve allowed voters to decide on a Nevada lottery.
Nevada’s Constitution allows charitable lotteries but outlaws regular lotteries like many states have. Democratic leaders had supported the resolution in 2023.
“When politicians talk about democracy being at risk, but block Nevadans from voting on something as straightforward as a state lottery, their words ring hollow,” said Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge in a statement.
“With federal cuts looming, uncertainty around the state budget, and lack of funding for education and mental health, Nevadans need real solutions and we need it now. Politicians cannot complain about budget shortfalls while refusing to even consider a bill that would bring in new revenue.”
Addressing Nevada’s nursing shortage
Nevada has long had a shortage of nurses. To address this problem, the 2023 Legislature allocated $20 million to increase funding at nursing schools for more faculty, in hopes this will lead to more nurses.
Another way to get more nurses was Senate Bill 34. It would’ve allowed nurses from other states to have their licenses recognized in Nevada. The proposal did not get a hearing.
Digging an extra 6 inches in your garden
Did you know that currently, if you want to dig more than 12 inches deep in your garden, you must call 811?
This is so NV Energy or a similar entity can come out and check that there are no power lines under where you want to dig.
This includes putting in a stake or a fencepost. It can delay work by gardening services, too, that must call before they can put a new tree in your front yard.
Sen. Ira Hansen proposed Senate Bill 214, which would’ve extended the depth to 18 inches before a utility company gets involved in your landscaping plans.
Picon Punch as the state drink
An attempt to make Picon Punch the state drink failed again, even though the main ingredient is exclusively made in Reno.
Outlawing road rage
Senate Bill 37 would’ve made “road rage” illegal.
Road rage would’ve been defined in state law as escalating an incident on a highway that intimidates, frightens or distresses another driver.
Speeding and red light cameras
Senate Bill 415 would’ve allowed cameras to be used to ticket people for speeding or running red lights.
This proposal featured some of the most vigorous debate of this legislative session.
With 389 traffic deaths in 2023 in Nevada and 25% linked to speeding, a case was made that speed cameras would save lives. Opponents claimed most people don’t like the cameras, they’re a cash grab by local governments that hurt low-income communities, and there are simple engineering methods to decrease intersection accidents.
Government transparency
Politicians like to tout transparency, but when push comes to shove, the reality is often different.
The Legislature had two chances to increase transparency and let both die.
One would’ve required the public to receive 72 hours’ notice before lawmakers vote on final passage of bills. The other would’ve made the Legislature “subject to the same provisions of law … as any other government entity” when it comes to public records and open meeting law.
Republicans’ proposed election changes
In a Democrat-dominated Legislature, Republican lawmakers had no chance for getting even a hearing on numerous bills linked to voting.
Among the election proposals that died were ones that would’ve required voters to show ID when voting; required mail ballots to be postmarked by Election Day;made explicit only U.S. citizens can vote; and required that people who deliver ballots for others prove they live in Nevada.
Nevada voters will get their own chance to pass voter ID in 2026 after overwhelmingly approving it in 2024, and the Republican-controlled U.S. House approved a bill last week to require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Giving Nevada’s electoral votes to the most popular national presidential candidate
Assembly Joint Resolution 6 could’ve allowed Nevada to join a compact with other states saying that their electoral votes will go to whichever presidential candidate wins the nation’s popular vote rather than who wins the most in their individual state. So far, states representing more than 200 electoral votes have signed on.
If this National Popular Vote compact had been in effect in 2016, Hillary Clinton would’ve been president instead of Donald Trump because she received the most votes among all ballots cast nationally.
The resolution passed the 2023 Nevada Legislature and if it’d passed this session, the plan would’ve gone before voters in 2026.
How judges are elected in Nevada
Jill Dickman’s Assembly Bill 173 would’ve required judges to reveal what political party they’re affiliated with when they file their campaign finance forms.
Also, a joint resolution would’ve changed how judges appear on ballots if they’re unopposed. Senate Joint Resolution 2 would’ve allowed voters to choose whether to retain the judge or not. If more picked “do not retain,” then the judge would not keep the job even if no one was running against them.
Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to [email protected] or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.