Governor Steve Sisolak talked about a wide range of issues, including controversial topics like gun reform. During his first State of the State Address, he showed support for the federal ban on bump stocks, closing loopholes for background checks at gun shows and online purchases, and wants to restrict certain criminals from getting guns, including offenders of domestic violence.
"I am working with the Legislature to implement commonsense background checks on all firearm sales in Nevada," Sisolak, D-Nevada said. "We will address the threat gun violence poses to victims of domestic violence in the state of Nevada. Those subjected to restraining orders should not be allowed to buy a firearm."
The legislature already has about a dozen bill draft requests ahead of the 2019 Legislative Session. Not everyone is on-board with new laws or restrictions though.
"I'm also very worried about some of the gun initiatives that are coming up," Assem. Jim Wheeler, R-Minden said. "I know in the rurals, that's going to be a nonstarter. So again, let's sit down and let's talk."
Nevada voters narrowly approved gun background checks for private party sales in the 2016 election, requiring an FBI background check. That has not been enforced because the FBI didn't agree to it. Sisolak says it is time to take action.
"It's long past time we listen to the voters and enact these changes because background checks save lives," Sisolak said.
Gordon Gray is the owner of Sparks Black Rifle. He says Nevada's current system works, saying it is a better method than the FBI background checks because it checks both the state and federal databases.
"If there's a better system out there, by all means, let's implement it but the system we have now is doing the job," Gray said.
However, he does not expect any of the options on the table will keep criminals from getting guns.
"They're not going through the legal means of buying a gun," Gray said. "They're either buying it from another criminal who broke into somebody's house and stole the gun to start with or they've acquired it other ways."
Annette Magnus is the executive director for Battle Born Progress. Her organization has been trying to get stricter gun laws passed over the past several years, including requiring guns to be locked up in people's homes.
"When I heard the governor talk about it, I got chills," Magnus said. "I think it's fantastic. I think there are small changes that can make a really huge difference when it comes to gun deaths in Nevada, so we want to be a leader on that issue."
Sisolak laid out his budget during his speech.
"As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it," Sisolak said. "That's why this budget that you are being presented with has no new taxes"
"That's fascinating," Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden said. "We're not going to raise taxes. That's fascinating. I look forward to not doing it."
The Executive Budget's General Fund appropriations for the next biennium add up to $8.93 billion, which is almost $900 million more than the current two-year period. Meanwhile, General Fund revenue projections are $714.3 million dollars more than the current biennium, leaving what looks like a 185 million dollar hole. The governor's office says that money was not allocated during the current budget, so it is added to the next one, bringing total revenue projections to $8.958 billion.
Lawmakers say the budget looks balanced on paper but say things could change as they get into the details of Sisolak's plan. Wheeler says a lot of the new revenue will be eaten up by existing programs and wonders if the governor's plan has enough money to pay for the increased costs.
"That tells me he's going to extend certain taxes," Wheeler said. "It tells me he's not going to reduce certain taxes that are scheduled to be reduced, and probably maybe reformulate taxes."
Lawmakers say it is possible that not all of Sisolak's proposals will pass the final budget but they expect to get most of them through.
"I think there's going to be opportunities to deal with the budget and deal with what he outlined," Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas said. "There may be some massaging of some positions and some funding but I think as a whole, our caucus is pretty happy with what we heard."
The budget is expected to have the highest amount of revenue and appropriations in the state's history, which is a much different scenario than eight years ago when lawmakers had to adjust to the recession.
"The hardest thing to do was to come into this buildings and cut hundreds of millions of dollars from education, cut hundreds of millions of dollars from mental health, and now we get to put money into education," Assem. Teresa Benitez-Thomspson, D-Reno said. "We get to put money into mental health."
The 80th Legislative Session begins on February 4. Lawmakers will have 120 days to pass a balanced budget.
