LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Lawmakers and supporter of two bills for tax credits for movie studio campuses are ramping up their calls for approval, as both face further support and scrutiny amid the state’s projected shortfalls.
The clock is ticking until the end of the 2025 Legislative session.
Assembly Bill 238, backing the joint venture at Summerlin Studios between Warner. Bros. and Sony Pictures, remains in the Ways and Means Committee.
Senate Bill 220 –supported by Birtcher Nevada Development and the MBS Group at the Harry Reid Research & Technology Park–remains in the Finance Committee.
Both bills are expecting a hearing within days.
Supporters of each bill, and trade unions who support both, argue for a need for economic diversification and a rapid infusion of revenue streams amid slumping tourism and high unemployment, touting each legislation’s own benefits.
On Thursday, lawmakers were informed by the state’s Economic Forum of a $191 million shortfall over two budget cycles. Friday, lawmakers told FOX5 that the State Education Fund will also see a decrease of more than $150 million.
FOX5 spoke with Assemblymember Sandra Jauregui on A.B. 238, who argues that the bill is more crucial than ever for Nevada’s economy.
“We cannot afford to lose this opportunity. We cannot afford to not do this during a time when our economy is going to slow down, which means tourism is going to slow down, which means our revenue is going down as projected by the Economic Forum. This is the perfect time to bring a new economy, new revenue into our state,” Jauregui said, noting that tax credits do not kick in until 2028, or after a proposed movie studio campus is built and a filming project has wrapped up.
A.B. 238 proposes a $120 million tax credit package over 15 years for productions at Summerlin Studios. The bill mandates that half of the 15,000 annual workers would be Nevadans.
Proponents of S.B. 220 and the “Nevada Film Infrastructure, Workforce Development, Education and Economic Diversification Act” echo the need for economic diversity and also higher education support, as federal funding cuts threaten learning and training opportunities for young Nevadans.
S.B. 220 will provide around $100 million in tax credits for 15 years, with a three-year “ramp-up.” According to bill proponents, the project would generate around 9,000 jobs a year, and through the lifespan of the project, generate $80.5 billion in economic impact.
The Nevada State Education Association has strongly opposed the potential negative fiscal impact of both bills, arguing for lawmakers to prioritize critical funding that’s needed for Nevada schools.
“We have a looming federal budget crisis that could potentially cut hundreds of millions of dollars from our education programs, and for some reason Carson City is entertaining another Hollywood handout,” said Alexander Marks of the NSEA.
“We can’t afford giant tax credits to corporations…the biggest plot twist right now is that the state budgets’ education funding is only increasing by two dollars,” he said, urging lawmakers to pass the Commission on School Funding’s plan for education.
Other lawmakers have already voiced concerns.
“I believe Las Vegas and Nevada are great the way we are, we don’t need to try and be Hollywood 2.0 on the backs of the taxpayers,” said Senate Republican Leader Robin Titus, in a statement this year to FOX5.
Both bills argue a “net positive” effect: for every $1 of tax credits given, more than $1 will be returned in tax revenue and economic infusion.
Others debate the return on investment, or ROI: for every $1 given in tax credits, how much will the state get back in direct or indirect revenue?
Film productions generate direct revenue for the state from sales taxes and payroll taxes. Productions utilize and hire various other businesses in the community.
Some have expressed concerns over ROI.
“You’d be hard pressed to find an economist or an economic development professional who would say this is a great investment. Essentially, they are a negative balance on the general fund,” said Dr. David Damore of UNLV think-tank The Lincy Institute, urging scrutiny if Nevada lawmakers seek to utilize tax credits.
The 2025 legislative session was a topic of a panel at the Vegas Chamber “Preview Las Vegas” event in January.
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Mojave (Nev.) head football coach Wes Pacheco announced on Sunday morning that he’s stepping down from his position, according to a social media post.
Pacheco announced his resignation after six seasons at the helm of the Rattlers, putting together a 29-22 overall record from 2020-2025.
“I have officially stepped down as Head Coach of the Mojave Football Program,” Pacheco said in his social media post. “Thank you to Principal Cole for giving me the opoortunity make an impact on the lives of Mojave Student-Athletes. I am grateful and blessed to have labored through a 6-year journey of successes, failures, life lessons, character building and growth with the student-athletes myself and my coaching staff have served. I will forever love my Mojave Family, the Mojave Community and believe in the notion that SUCCESS can be attained by showcasing character, treating everyone with respect, and always have the courage to dream big and trust that “ATTACKING THE HARD WORK” & “HIGH MOTORING EVERYTHING” can yield SUCCESS that you want to achieve in life!”
During Pacheco’s half dozen seasons leading Mojave, his best record came in the 2024 season when the Rattlers finished with a 12-1 record. Located out of North Las Vegas, Mojave had to compete against the likes of national high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman during the regular season.
Mojave ended the last season with a 4-6 record and as the state’s No. 23rd ranked team, according to the final 2025 Nevada High School Football Massey Rankings.
Mojave High School, located in North Las Vegas, NV, is a dynamic public high school that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement. Home of the Rattlers, MHS offers a wide range of academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities. With a strong commitment to student success, Mojave emphasizes leadership, college and career readiness, and a supportive school culture that prepares students for life beyond graduation.
For Nevada high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Silver State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Nevada.
A recent Review-Journal letter to the editor mischaracterized Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, also known as the Clark County Lands bill. As the former executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, I wholeheartedly support this legislation, so I wanted to set the record straight.
Sen. Cortez Masto has been working on this bill for years in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups like the NCL and local area tribes. It’s true that the Clark County lands bill would open 25,000 acres to help Las Vegas grow responsibly, while setting aside 2 million acres for conservation. It would also help create more affordable housing throughout the valley while ensuring our treasured public spaces can be preserved for generations to come.
What is not correct is that the money from these land sales would go to the federal government’s coffers. In fact, the opposite is true.
The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act is a landmark bill that identified specific public land for future sale and created a special account ensuring all land sale revenues would come back to Nevada. In accordance with that law 5 percent of revenue from land transfers goes to the state of Nevada for general education purposes, 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for needed water infrastructure and 85 percent supports conservation and environmental mitigation projects in Southern Nevada. This legislation has provided billions to Clark County and will continue to benefit generations of Southern Nevadans. Sen. Cortez Masto’s lands bill builds upon the act’s success.
So here’s the good news: All of the money generated from land made available for sale under Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill would be sent to the special account created by the 1998 law. Rather than going to an unaccountable federal government, the proceeds would continue to help kids in Vegas get a better education, bolster outdoor recreation and modernize Southern Nevada’s infrastructure.
I know how important it is that money generated from the sale of public land in Nevada stay in the hands of Nevadans, and so does the senator. That’s why she opposed a Republican effort last year to sell off 200,000 acres of land in Clark County and other areas of the country that would have sent those dollars directly to Washington.
Public land management in Nevada should benefit Nevadans. We should protect sacred cultural sites and beloved recreation spaces, responsibly transfer land for affordable housing when needed and ensure our state has the resources it needs to grow sustainably. I will continue working with Sen. Cortez Masto to advocate for legislation, such as the Clark County lands bill, that puts the needs of Nevadans first.
Paul Selberg writes from Las Vegas.
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Las Vegas High’s baseball team claimed a 3-2 home win over Coronado on Friday.
Las Vegas (9-13-1) next hosts Rancho at 10 a.m. Saturday. Coronado (13-14) hosts Chaparral at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
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