A special session of the Nevada Legislature could begin as soon as Thursday, a state lawmaker said Saturday.

Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva, a Democrat who represents a district that includes parts of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, said lawmakers have been told a special session, announced by Gov. Joe Lombardo last month, could start Thursday.

“We’ve been told it could potentially start on Nov. 13,” D’Silva said. “I booked a hotel room and a flight, but I made sure that they’re refundable. In the end, it’s the governor’s call, so we have to just be ready.”

The Las Vegas Review-Journal previously reported that, according to sources, discussions about the session centered on the second week of November.

On Oct. 6, Lombardo, a Republican, said he planned to call the Legislature back to Carson City for a special session, though he did not specify an exact date or say what it would be about.

“The goal will be to finish what the Legislature left unfinished — plain and simple,” Lombardo said at the time. A message left for the governor’s spokeswoman Saturday evening was not immediately returned.

Under Nevada law, the governor is responsible for calling a special session into order, and he decides what’s on the agenda.

State law prohibits campaign fundraising 15 days before a special session or the day after the proclamation calling a special session, and the blackout period ends 15 days after a special session adjourns.

D’Silva said it’s expected that public safety issues will likely be prioritized during the session and that he hopes e-scooter safety will be on the agenda.

The Las Vegas Valley has been home to numerous fatal crashes in recent months that involved riders of e-scooters and other personal travel devices that can reach speeds of 20 mph or faster.

“This would be an appropriate place to put forth some e-scooter regulatory language or something that addresses the issue,” D’Silva said. “This has become a very serious problem in the minds of a lot of Nevadans. I’m hoping for some kind of action.”

D’Silva said he recently sent a letter outlining his thoughts on possible e-scooter regulation — which would center on a county option to impose new rules — to Lombardo’s chief of staff.

“The main onus of the special session is going to be public safety,” D’Silva said. “I know there’s talk about Hollywood 2.0 and SNAP and health care, but the reason why the governor initially called for this was to address the public safety issues that we weren’t able to address during the regular session.”

As D’Silva pointed out, another special session topic could be an expansion to Nevada’s film tax credit program.

Two proposals were considered until the end of the 120-day session in June. One bill would have supported up to $95 million in tax credits dedicated to supporting a Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery-backed effort to build a film campus studio in Summerlin. That bill narrowly passed the Assembly but was not brought up for a vote in the Senate.

In a Sept. 12 news conference, Lombardo also said “this cybersecurity thing would be a point of conversation” for a special session agenda. For several weeks in late August and early September, a ransomware attack and ensuing state response shut down state services — including DMV in-person appointments, publicly accessible databases and online applications for some state services.

Contact Bryan Horwath at bhorwath@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BryanHorwath on X.

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Years after cannabis consumption lounges were legalized in Nevada, only one operates regularly for public use statewide.

The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board tells FOX5, they have issued 28 conditional licenses to prospective operators.

Barriers to opening

Christopher LaPorte, a consultant working with a client seeking to open a cannabis business in Las Vegas’ Arts District, said three major hurdles prevent businesses from opening.

“The first one is perception. Like, what people think these lounges are supposed to be,” LaPorte said.

He said lounges will offer more than smoking spaces and will be designed as destinations.

“It’s going to be a restaurant. It’s going to be a movie theater. There’s going to be anything where you’re just replacing alcohol with cannabis,” LaPorte explained.

The second challenge involves finding real estate. State regulations require lounges to operate at least 1,500 feet from casinos, limiting location options.

“Not every property owner wants to lease to cannabis lounge license holders. And so now you have to ask yourself, if you’re a first-time business owner, and you want to open up your first restaurant, do you have to buy the building too?” LaPorte said.

Funding represents the third obstacle for prospective owners entering the new industry.

State support efforts

Steve Gilbert, chief of administration for the Cannabis Compliance Board, said the agency held a resources fair this week for conditional license holders.

“We know it is difficult. It’s a new industry,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert said the CCB is working to help prospective owners through the licensing process and expressed enthusiasm about proposed business concepts.

“A bowling alley, or a massage parlor or infused products. It’s been remarkable to see, and it will be even more remarkable to see what different business models come to life,” Gilbert said.

LaPorte’s client has held a conditional license for two years. He described her planned business as “a supper club” that will serve “sophisticated food” and “happens to offer you cannabis with it instead of a traditional alcoholic beverage.”

LaPorte predicted growth similar to dispensary expansion after legalization of cannabis in Nevada.

“I’m hoping to see these things open up by next year, no question,” LaPorte said.

The Cannabis Compliance Board provides resources for prospective owners on its website, including presentations from this week’s resource fair.

The only consumption lounge currently open to the public in Nevada is Dazed! which operates at Planet 13 in Las Vegas.

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Goodwill of Southern Nevada continues with its Care-to-Care Fundraising Partnership and this month they are joining forces with Lighthouse Charities. Goodwill of Southern Nevada’s Brian Stewart and Cindy Trussell from Lighthouse Charities are here to share more.

Goodwill is so proud to put people to work both in their stores and in industries where they need great workers. They are impressed that Lighthouse Charities brings in such passionate workers that help to resettle those from countries all over the planet. People are coming from refugee camps, they are so proud to be in America, they are industrious and they want to get ahead.

Cindy Trussell founded Lighthouse Charities 10 years ago. She was already serving in the community, working with the Clark County School district, setting up food pantries to help families in need. The school district introduced her to the population she is now serving. Different schools that she was working with came forward and told her about some of the challenges they were facing as staff to try and clothe and feed these families and help them with their needs.

For more information go to GoodwillVegas.org.