Natural Resources

AB 543 revises Nevada’s rules for grazing livestock on state lands managed by the Division of State Parks. It requires all fees paid by ranchers for grazing livestock on these lands to be deposited directly into the State Parks Maintenance Account, rather than general state funds. The bill mandates that these funds must be used exclusively for repairs and maintenance in the specific park area or region where the fee was collected. This ensures grazing fees directly support local park upkeep, with the fee calculation method also updated to adjust for inflation every six years using beef price and production cost indices. The change affects ranchers leasing state park lands and directs revenue to local park maintenance.

SB 235 modifies Nevada wildlife regulations in three key ways. It mandates that the Board of Wildlife Commissioners establish a program allowing adults to transfer big-game hunting tags to youth under 18 (replacing a previous optional program). The bill eliminates misdemeanor penalties for refusing to show weapons, ammunition, or wildlife (beyond just licenses/permits) during enforcement checks. Additionally, it authorizes non-commercial collection of wildlife skulls or heads without requiring the standard hunting tag, while clarifying that licenses/permits can be shown electronically. These changes directly affect hunters, youth participants in hunting programs, and enforcement officers.

AB 165 establishes the Outdoor Education Council within Nevada's State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to develop standards for outdoor education programs. The Council will award designations to public schools meeting these standards, providing each school with a monetary award to support their outdoor education initiatives. It will also recognize one teacher annually as "Outdoor Educator of the Year" with a nonmonetary award. The Council, composed of education, wildlife, school district, and nature-based provider representatives, will set the standards and administer these programs.

AB 104 establishes the Nevada Voluntary Water Rights Retirement Program, allowing the state to purchase or accept donations of legal groundwater rights for retirement (e.g., to protect rivers or recharge aquifers) through a dedicated account. It sets a hard deadline: the program will stop accepting new applications or donations after June 30, 2035, and requires the State Engineer to retire any purchased rights. The bill also modifies water conservation grant programs to include funding for replacing grass with water-efficient landscaping and adjusts eligibility criteria based on median household income. Additionally, it updates temporary water permit rules, expands water reuse policies, and revises water quality standard procedures. The law aims to conserve water resources while providing clear, time-bound mechanisms for rights retirement and grant administration.

SB 286 requires state agencies and local governments in Nevada to consult with tribal governments during land use planning processes, including when reviewing projects on state or public lands. It amends the State and Local Government Cooperation Act to rename it the "State, Local and Tribal Government Cooperation Act" and mandates that tribes be informed, consulted, and considered when adopting or amending certain plans. The bill defines "tribal government" for this purpose and clarifies that these requirements do not limit existing duties of state or local entities. This directly affects tribal governments, state agencies, and local governments (cities/counties) involved in land use planning. The policy change updates consultation procedures to formally include tribal input in planning decisions.