Lindsay Knox is Douglas County's new lobbyist.
With Democrats failing to achieve super majorities in either house of the Nevada Legislature, Douglas County lobbyist Lindsay Knox said legislators are going to have to work with the governor to get bills passed.
Democrats still have the lead in the state 27-15 in the Assembly and 13-8 in the Senate.
“They must work together, and the governor’s veto is still in play,” Knox said in her first presentation to commissioners.
She said that as of Thursday, 152 bill have been introduced and that the 558 bill drafts are likely to become bills. Those were increasing as she made her presentation to commissioners.
Nevada’s Legislature convenes every two years and lasts 120 days under the Nevada Constitution. The session begins on Feb. 3, 2025.
The front of the Legislative Building is undergoing construction, and whether that interferes with the session will become apparent as the opening date approaches.
Knox said legislative themes will include attempts to increase the state’s film tax credits from the current $6 million.
An effort to include a $190 million film credit died in the 2023 legislature after it was introduced in the waning days of the session.
“Film tax credits will suck a lot of air out of the room,” Knox said. “It will again take a majority of the session to get through those.”
Other themes include housing, behavioral health, workers’ compensation, criminal justice, transportation network companies and education.
Knox said Gov. Joe Lombardo is sponsoring a behavioral health bill, and housing is going to be a priority at the local, state and federal levels.
Commissioner Mark Gardner, who is the incoming president of the Nevada Association of Counties, asked Knox to reach out should she need them.
She said that testimony from county officials far outweighs that of lobbyists.
“Your words speak much louder than mine do,” Knox said. “It is invaluable that they hear from the county.”
Knox grew up in Douglas County and said it has a special place in her heart.
However, she said that she’s not expecting much of a change from prior years.
“There’s a very similar temperature as there has been in prior sessions,” she said.
Knox’ firm of McDonald Carrano replaced Steve and Mary Walker who had lobbied for Douglas County for years before retiring after the 2023 session.
