New mining tax approved, revenue will fund schools

Nevada lawmakers on the final day of the 81st Legislative Session set in motion a significant shift in tax policy toward an industry that has long been scrutinized for having a unique constitutional carveout protecting it from tax hikes.

Assembly Bill 495 was a bipartisan compromise forced by multiple proposed ballot questions aimed at some of the most politically powerful industries within the state. It was the culmination of several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between lawmakers, mining corporations, the gaming industry and the state’s most powerful teachers union.

Assembly members Jill Tolles (R-Washoe) and Tom Roberts (R-Clark) voted with the Democrats in order to pass the bill with the two-thirds majority constitutionally required to raise taxes. The final vote was 28-14, the bare minimum needed to pass a new revenue bill.

In the Senate, the final tally was higher than it needed to be: 16-5. All Democrats supported the bill. Joining them were Republican state Sens. Ben Kieckhefer, Heidi Seevers Gansert, Keith Pickard and Scott Hammond.

Read more: https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2021/06/01/new-mining-tax-approved-revenue-will-fund-schools/