Nevada

D.C. Download: Congress authorizes another decade of Tahoe funding – The Nevada Independent

Published

1 year ago

September 28, 2024

D.C. Download: Congress authorizes another decade of Tahoe funding – The Nevada Independent

And just like that, Congress is out of session again and the election is less than 40 days away.

Excuse the Carrie Bradshaw-ism there, but the government is now funded through December, and all that’s left to do is see who wins. There will likely be a flurry of legislative effort in the lame duck session, but the Nevada delegation achieved a big, bipartisan win this week with the passage of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act. Since this is a Nevada-centric issue, we’re jumping right to The Nevada Angle.

Let’s get into it.

The Nevada Angle

A bill to keep federal funds flowing to Lake Tahoe for another 10 years is now awaiting the president’s signature after successful passage in both chambers.

The Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act, introduced by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in March 2023 and co-sponsored by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and the senators from California, is the third iteration of the original Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2000.

That bill, championed by the late Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Harry Reid (D-NV), established a $300 million fund for restoration projects around the lake, including invasive species removal, new trails and wildfire resilience activities. Critically, as an authorized program, these projects don’t have to go through the annual appropriations process and are not subject to the whims of partisan control or budgetary priorities. The funding is already in place — an authorization just allows those funds to continue to be used.

In 2016, spearheaded by then-Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), a reauthorization was passed and $415 million appropriated. That reauthorization was set to expire Sept. 30.

The 2024 reauthorization includes no new money — there is nearly $300 million left in the fund — but extends the time to spend it by another 10 years.

The bill passed the Senate in July by unanimous consent, and the House by voice vote Tuesday.

“I’m proud of our bipartisan work to deliver funding for vital programs that keep the lake clean, support local jobs, and support our tourism economy,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “It is an honor to help lead Team Tahoe and fight for the resources the basin needs to thrive.”

In the House, the bill was supported by all four Nevadans and Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), who represents the California side of the lake. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), who led the effort in the House, said the coalition intentionally used the Senate version of the bill that had already passed in order to eliminate any administrative delays.

“We took the Senate bill, so you don’t have to go back and forth,” he said.

Tahoe advocacy has always been a bipartisan undertaking. The annual Lake Tahoe Summit, a tradition that began in 1997, traditionally features speeches from lawmakers of both parties and both states.

Tahoe advocates testified on behalf of the bill in front of a House subcommittee earlier in September. They noted that the federal funding is a critical piece of the conservation program, which has undertaken more than 830 projects since its formation in 1997.

“In the thick of election season, the successful bipartisan effort to pass the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act is something the whole country can celebrate,” Darcie Goodman Collins, the CEO of League to Save Lake Tahoe, said in a statement. “In every conversation we have with lawmakers, we hear nothing but commitment to protect this national treasure.”

Around the Capitol

🇺🇦From Las Vegas to Kyiv — Cortez Masto led all five Democrats in the Nevada delegation in a letter urging the Biden administration to loosen restrictions on how Ukraine can use U.S.-made weapons.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked President Joe Biden this week for the ability to use U.S.-made long-range missiles to strike targets deep into Russia — a request that has divided Ukraine allies. Several members of Congress and administration figures, including the Nevadans now, have urged Biden to relent, hoping it can bring a speedier end to the war.

⚡Lee-backed geothermal bill passes House — A bill to expedite the development of geothermal energy co-sponsored by Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) passed the House by voice vote Wednesday. The bill creates a categorical exclusion to the environmental review process for permitting of geothermal wells in areas where drilling has already occurred or been approved in the past five years.

💰$$$ to ABTC — American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), a Reno company that manufactures and recycles lithium ion batteries, is receiving $150 million from the Department of Energy as part of the Biden administration’s effort to supercharge the domestic lithium battery supply chain. ABTC has been the beneficiary of several federal grants and programs, including claiming $60 million in tax credits from the Democrats’ signature clean-energy law to build its battery recycling facilities. This grant will go toward building a second battery recycling facility.

What I’m Reading

The Washington Post: Harris pushes to recapture Latino support that fell under Biden

The Biden 2020 number she’s chasing in Nevada: +26.

The Nevada Independent: Horsford moves to censure Louisiana Republican over racist post

It got heated on the House floor this week.

NPR: Q&A: Nevada Sen. Cortez Masto on teaming up with VP Harris as attorneys general

On a potential Cabinet position in a Harris administration: “I’m a third generation Nevadan, and my goal is to stay there and continue to represent the people of my state.”

Notable and Quotable

“If you can connect with everybody there as a swing state, you’re going to be on your way to making that connection across the country.”

— Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), to NPR, on why making sure a candidate plays in Nevada is so important

Vote of the Week

H.R. 9747 — On Passage: Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025

The government is temporarily funded — and all Nevadans are in support.

AMODEI: Yes

HORSFORD: Yes

LEE: Yes

TITUS: Yes

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Nevada

Nevada DMV receives nearly 21,000 reports of illegal drivers in two months

Published

4 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Nevada DMV receives nearly 21,000 reports of illegal drivers in two months

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has received nearly 21,000 complaints about illegal drivers through its new online reporting portal in just two months, with more than 83 percent of those reports coming from Clark County.

The Registration Spotter tool, launched in October on the DMV’s website, allows residents to report vehicles with no plates, expired or invalid registration, or illegal out-of-state plates. The initiative was part of an effort to address what officials call a pervasive problem affecting road safety and contributing to rising car insurance costs.

WATCH | Plenty of reports, not enough action — what’s the deal?

Nevada DMV receives nearly 21,000 reports of illegal drivers in two months

“It’s everywhere all the time,” said J.D. Decker from the DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division during a February ride-along.

However, some residents who have filed reports are questioning the effectiveness of the system, like Las Vegas resident Paul who emailed to ask, “Darcy, what’s the deal?”

“I reported a car without plates over two months ago and I still see it parking where I live. Why don’t they investigate? I also see so many cars on the road without plates and even see cops that don’t stop them. Why don’t police stop them?” Paul asked.

KTNV

DMV officials acknowledge that enforcement is lacking. DMV spokesperson Hailey Foster said the agency agrees “this is certainly an issue we, the DMV, would like to see be enforced more.”

The DMV admits it’s still working to distribute data from the online portal to other agencies and cannot guarantee specific action on reports. Foster explained that if a vehicle is parked in someone’s driveway and not being operated, that’s technically legal. Officers need to see the car being driven on streets to issue a citation.

“This takes everybody, and there’s so much of it right now, and it’s going to take all of Nevada law enforcement to address,” Decker said.

The DMV does not track enforcement statistics based on whether action comes from patrol, investigation or complaints submitted by residents, making it impossible to determine how many Registration Spotter tips have led to enforcement action.

But, traffic enforcement overall is increasing. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police made about 82,000 traffic stops this year, according to a Dec. 16 social media post.

A newly formed multi-agency traffic task force, which we told you about on Dec. 8, has logged 26 registration violations and 14 insurance violations since its formation, though their primary focus is on dangerous driving.

We also asked other agencies for their enforcement statistics over the last two months. North Las Vegas Police said, “While NLVPD does not receive or track the individual public-submitted reports sent directly to the DMV as part of that program, we are able to provide our department’s registration-related enforcement statistics during the same general timeframe.

For the period October 1, 2025 through December 18, 2025, North Las Vegas Police Department officers issued:

557 citations
601 total offenses related to registration and license plate violations

These offenses include, but are not limited to:

Failure to possess or surrender certificate of registration
Improper display of license plates
Operating a vehicle without valid Nevada vehicle registration

Henderson Police citations from 10/01/2025 – 12/17/2025:

Operate vehicle w/expired registration or plates: 214

Operate unregistered vehicle-trailer or semi trailer: 84

Display fictitious vehicle registration/plate/title: 8

Fail to obtain and properly display permit to operate unregistered vehicle: 3

Operate unregistered moped: 1

Rear license plate lamp violation: 1

License plates improperly displayed: 1

Nevada State Police was only able to provide citation information for the month of October.

Nevada Highway Patrol statewide citation information:

Total citations issued: 12,962

Registration-related citations: 1,475

All other citations: 11,487

Statement from the Department:

“The Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division recognizes public interest related to unregistered vehicles and has and will continue to enforce all traffic laws on Nevada’s roadways, including laws related to vehicle registration. Enforcement of unregistered vehicles has long been part of routine traffic enforcement efforts statewide. As with all enforcement activity, the Nevada Highway Patrol prioritizes public safety and responds based on observed violations, calls for service, and operational considerations, including impaired driving and other serious safety concerns. Traffic enforcement is continuous and ongoing, and troopers take appropriate enforcement action when unregistered vehicles are encountered during patrol or traffic stops. The Nevada Highway Patrol strongly encourages drivers to ensure their vehicles are properly registered in accordance with Nevada law.”

The DMV is asking each law enforcement agency in the state to increase enforcement of the types of violations reported through Registration Spotter. DMV officials say the best outcome would be for each agency to conduct their own enforcement patrols and crack down on these violations.

Wondering what the deal is with something happening in the valley? Reach out to Darcy Spears at Darcy.Spears@ktnv.com.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Nevada

Outdoor tourism grows in Nevada despite Las Vegas Strip visitor decline

Published

16 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Outdoor tourism grows in Nevada despite Las Vegas Strip visitor decline

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — While Strip tourism declined this year, outdoor recreation across Nevada continues to grow, with some areas seeing increased business and new facilities opening to accommodate visitors.

Valley of Fire State Park reached 1 million visitors this year and recently opened a new $30 million visitors center. Lake Mead National Recreation Area also continues to draw tourists, including those taking holiday-themed rafting tours through Black Canyon.

Chad Taylor, director of operations for the Hospitality Division of Guest Services and Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures, calls outdoor recreation an “enormous” boost for the state economy.

Last month, the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation (NDOR) released an Economic Impact Analysis finding that outdoor recreation is a $24 billion industry in Nevada, generating $13.7 billion in total economic output, supporting more than 75,000 jobs, and contributing $8.8 billion to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

NDOR reports outdoor recreation has officially surpassed the mining industry in GDP contribution and is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Nevada’s economic diversification strategy.

The Hoover Dam Rafting Adventure, which has operated for more than four decades, saw slightly lower numbers this year for its 12-mile Colorado River tours starting at the base of the dam. Taylor said the rafting business typically follows Las Vegas tourism trends.

“As Las Vegas tourism increases or decreases, we typically see the same out here for the tour specifically,” Taylor said.

However, other outdoor properties showed growth. Taylor said Lake Mead properties, including Callville Bay, Cottonwood Cove, and Temple Bar, saw increased business this year.

Taylor, who sits on the governor’s advisory board for outdoor tourism, said the state is investing heavily in outdoor recreation infrastructure. Nevada is building Adventure Centers in Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada.

The Southern Nevada Adventure Center, under construction in Boulder City, will serve as a one-stop shop for booking outdoor activities. The facility is expected to open in summer 2026.

“Not only at the federal level, but the state level, the amount of energy and effort that they’ve put into outdoor recreation over the last few years, especially when it comes to the two new adventure centers that they’re building in Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada, they’re doubling down on outdoor recreation,” Taylor said.

The Hoover Dam rafting company continues its holiday-themed tours with Santa through Christmas Eve.

The Hoover Dam rafting company continues its holiday-themed tours with Santa through Christmas Eve.(FOX5)

Reservations can be made at hooverdamraftingadventures.com or by calling (800) 455-3490.

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Nevada

Bill by Nevada’s Amodei to ramp up mining on public land passes House

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Bill by Nevada’s Amodei to ramp up mining on public land passes House

The U.S. House passed a bill Thursday put forward by Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei that would reinvigorate mining activity on federal lands.

Amodei, a Republican who represents the state’s top half, described the bill as strengthening the nation’s mineral supply chain and helping to counter China’s dominance with minerals.

“Western states are sitting on a wealth of resources and a critical opportunity to break our dangerous reliance on foreign adversaries while powering our own economy,” he said in a statement.

“The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act … gives domestic mining operations the certainty they need to compete aggressively and win.”

The bill passed 219 to 198. Republicans voted 210 in favor, 1 opposed and 9 not voting. Democrats voted 9 in favor, 197 opposed and 7 not voting. It was one of the House’s last actions before adjourning for the year.

Nevada delegation split on mining bill

Amodei was joined by Las Vegas Democrat Steven Horsford, who co-sponsored the bill in the House.

“Streamlining the hardrock mining process will create good jobs and strengthen our energy sector,” Horsford said.

The state’s other two House members — Democrats Susie Lee and Dina Titus — voted in opposition.

Titus spokesperson Dick Cooper told the Reno Gazette Journal that the congresswoman voted no because the bill would allow for increased dumping of mine waste on public lands.

“It would also allow mining companies to gain permanent rights to occupy public lands and preclude other uses including recreational and cultural uses,” he added.

It now heads to the Senate, where Nevada Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto will work to get it passed.

“This bill is common sense, and it’s key for communities across Nevada that count on mining for their livelihoods,” Cortez Masto said in a social media post.

Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada, a Democrat, also supports it. She helped introduce the Senate companion version of Amodei’s bill.

“Nevada is one of the few places in the United States with an abundance of critical minerals and a robust hardrock mining industry,” Rosen said. “The responsible mining of these minerals supports thousands of jobs and will help to strengthen our domestic manufacturing and clean energy supply chains.”

What does Amodei’s Mining Regulatory Clarity Act do?

The bill is a response to a 2022 decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals involving the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona.

The decision basically meant that mining companies must prove valuable minerals exist on a piece of land before they can dump waste material on it. Called the “mineral validity” requirement, it disrupted decades of precedent.

Amodei’s bill would reverse that and allow the practice to resume of using nearby land for mining waste without proving the land contains commercial deposits — something mining companies say is essential for operating on federal land.

“This legislation ensures the fundamental ability to conduct responsible mining activities on federal lands,” said Rich Nolan, National Mining Association president and CEO, in a statement. “Regulatory certainty, or the lack thereof, will either underpin or undermine efforts to decisively confront our minerals crisis.”

The bill also creates an “Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund.” Some fees related to mining claims will be used to fund a program to inventory, assess and clean up abandoned hardrock mines.

Environmental groups blast House vote on Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

Some environmental groups campaigned against the bill and described it as choosing corporate interests over people, Native Americans’ rights and the environment.

Lauren Pagel, policy director for Earthworks, said the bill “will remove already-scarce protections for natural resources and sacred cultural sites in U.S. mining law.”

The Center for Biological Diversity said the bill surrenders public lands to mining conglomerates.

“The so-called Mining Regulatory Clarity Act would bypass the validity requirement and grant mining companies — including foreign companies — the statutory right to permanently occupy and indiscriminately use public lands upon approval of a company’s self-written plan of operations,” said the nonprofit conservation organization in an online post.

Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.

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