Photo of Howard Watts
D Nevada House · District 15

Rep. Howard Watts

Compare
Total votes
1,350
all sessions
Attendance
100%
of floor votes
Near the chamber average
With party
99%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
0%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
163
bills & resolutions
Near the chamber average
Committees
4
assignments
163 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
163
Primary
81
Co-sponsor
82
This page
163
matching current filters
Primary SB 402
In committee · Nevada Senate · Lead sponsor
Provides for the creation of restoration improvement districts for building restoration projects. (BDR 22-332)

Maddy summarySB 402 allows counties and cities to create "restoration improvement districts" around qualifying historic buildings (at least 50 years old) to fund their restoration. The bill authorizes local governments to pledge property tax revenue collected within these districts to developers, subject to a 20-year deed restriction preventing non-restricted business operations on the restored property. Developers must enter a written agreement with the municipality, and the district must meet specific criteria, including the building’s age and historical character. This bill directly affects developers of qualifying historic restoration projects and aims to incentivize preservation through local tax-based financing. (Note: Bill is pending, last action April 2025.)

In committee Jun 3, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor AB 378
In committee · Nevada House · Co-sponsor
Creates the Alternative Therapy Pilot Program. (BDR 40-820)

Maddy summaryAB 378 creates a pilot program allowing patients diagnosed with mental health conditions to access psychedelic therapy (using psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, ibogaine, or mescaline) under medical supervision in approved clinics. The Division of Public and Behavioral Health administers the program, requiring clinics to operate under strict medical oversight and participant approval. The bill includes confidentiality protections for patient data, liability immunity for program participants, and mandates annual reporting to the legislature. It also establishes an advisory committee and requires compliance with federal controlled substance regulations during the pilot phase.

In committee Jun 3, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Primary AB 95
In committee · Nevada House · Lead sponsor
Makes an appropriation to the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation for exhibits and improvements at the National Atomic Testing Museum. (BDR S-230)

Maddy summaryAB 95 provides $2.5 million in state funding from the General Fund to the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation for exhibits and improvements at the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas. The bill requires the Foundation to submit two detailed spending reports to the Interim Finance Committee (by December 2026 and September 2027) and to make records available for legislative audits. Any unused funds must be returned to the State General Fund by September 17, 2027. This legislation directly affects the museum’s operations and its ability to enhance public exhibits related to Nevada’s nuclear testing history.

In committee Jun 3, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Primary AB 219
In committee · Nevada House · Lead sponsor
Revises provisions relating to the use of the proceeds of the tax on live entertainment. (BDR 32-652)

Maddy summaryAB 219 changes how Nevada distributes revenue from its 9% live entertainment tax. Instead of allocating a fixed $150,000 annually to the Nevada Arts Council, the bill requires 1% of all tax revenue (including interest and penalties) collected in the previous fiscal year to be deposited into the Arts Council’s fund. Any remaining tax revenue after this 1% allocation must go to the State General Fund. This directly affects the Nevada Arts Council (which will receive more funding based on actual tax collections) and the State General Fund (which will receive the balance). The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

In committee Jun 3, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor AB 191
In committee · Nevada House · Co-sponsor
Revises provisions relating to collective bargaining. (BDR 23-889)

Maddy summaryAB 191 authorizes collective bargaining for professional employees of state professional employers (such as the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada with 400+ professional staff) who are in unclassified service or paid outside standard classified pay plans. It establishes new procedures for recognizing professional organizations as exclusive bargaining representatives, requires state employers to negotiate within 60 days of notice, and allows salary deductions for union dues. The bill also grants professional employees the right to representation during disciplinary actions and mandates annual reporting to the Government Employee-Management Relations Board. This directly affects state professional employers and their employees, creating a structured framework for collective bargaining previously limited to other state employee groups.

In committee Jun 3, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor AB 278
Vetoed · Nevada House · Co-sponsor
Designates the month of July as Muslim American Heritage Month. (BDR 19-924)

Maddy summaryAB 278 designates the month of July each year as "Muslim American Heritage Month" in Nevada. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance, urging media, schools, businesses, and community organizations to highlight Muslim Americans' contributions to Nevada and U.S. society. It directly affects Nevada residents by formally recognizing this heritage month through state action. The bill does not create new programs or funding but establishes a recurring official designation and proclamation process.

Vetoed Jun 3, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Primary AB 85
In committee · Nevada House · Lead sponsor
Authorizes the management of designated invertebrates. (BDR 45-229)

Maddy summaryAB 85 expands Nevada’s wildlife management to include "designated invertebrates," such as non-pest species identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan as needing conservation. It revises the definition of "wildlife" to explicitly include these invertebrates and creates a new classification for them under the Board of Wildlife Commissioners. The bill requires designated invertebrates to be listed as "fully protected" species when necessary, prohibiting their capture or harm without a permit, and applies existing wildlife fees and penalties to violations involving them. This directly affects the Department of Wildlife, the Board of Wildlife Commissioners, and anyone interacting with these protected invertebrates.

In committee Jun 3, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor AB 223
Vetoed · Nevada House · Co-sponsor
Revises provisions relating to the habitability of rental property. (BDR 10-684)

Maddy summaryAB 223 updates Nevada's rental housing laws to strengthen tenant protections. It expands what constitutes a habitable rental unit to include working locks, pest control, radon/lead safety, and essential services like utilities. Tenants can now terminate leases without early termination fees if landlords fail to fix habitability issues, with a 60-day notice period. Landlords must include specific payment methods (cash, checks, money orders) and written receipts in agreements, and provide clear fee disclosures on the first page of rental contracts. These changes directly affect Nevada renters and landlords by clarifying obligations and remedies for housing quality violations.

Vetoed Jun 3, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Primary SJR 10
Passed · Nevada Senate · Lead sponsor
Urges Congress to take certain actions relating to the therapeutic use of certain psychedelic compounds. (BDR R-801)

Maddy summarySJR 10 is a non-binding resolution urging Congress to take action supporting the therapeutic use of specific psychedelic compounds like psilocybin, MDMA, and ibogaine for mental health conditions. It cites FDA Breakthrough Therapy designations and clinical trial results showing promising outcomes for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. The resolution specifically references studies demonstrating significant symptom reduction in veterans and patients with mental health disorders. It does not create new laws or regulations but calls on federal lawmakers to advance research and access for these treatments.

Passed Jun 1, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 258
Signed into law · Nevada Senate · Co-sponsor
Revises provisions relating to industrial insurance. (BDR 53-594)

Maddy summarySB 258 updates industrial insurance rules by limiting reductions to workers' compensation only for "economic damages" (medical costs, lost wages, and rehabilitation expenses) when an injured worker receives payment from a third party, such as another company's insurance. It removes the requirement for injured workers to notify insurers before suing third parties and changes court procedures by prohibiting juries from hearing evidence about prior compensation payments. These changes directly affect injured workers, their families, and industrial insurers by ensuring workers are "made whole" before insurers claim any portion of third-party recovery. The bill also restricts insurers' claims to only the economic damages portion of any settlement or judgment.

Signed into law May 31, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Showing 11 to 20 of 163 bills