AB 51: A Transparency Tax Nevada Can’t Afford

Nevada’s gritty soul thrives on straight talk and open books. We’re a state of taxpayers who demand to know where our dollars go, a people who’ve fought off government overreach from sagebrush rebellions to tax battles. So when Assembly Bill 51 (AB 51) slinks into the 83rd Legislative Session, set for a hearing this Tuesday, February 25, it’s not just a bill—it’s a betrayal. This proposal, amending our public records law, threatens to lock every Nevadan out of the transparency we’ve paid for with our sweat and taxes. It’s time to sound the alarm.

The Dirty Details

AB 51 isn’t complicated, but it’s insidious. It’s got two fangs aimed at the heart of accountability:

First, it mandates fees for public records requests that take “extraordinary” effort—think anything beyond a quick photocopy. If you’re not a journalist with a media badge, you’ll pay “actual costs” upfront, no cap, no mercy. Right now, agencies can charge for big asks, but this “shall” makes it a requirement, not a choice.

Second, it lets agencies dodge requests they call “overly broad or unduly burdensome.” Too vague? Too tough? Denied—with a polite note to try again. No yardstick defines “broad”; it’s their call. Together, these changes turn a right into a privilege—for those who can afford it.

Why This Hurts

Imagine you’re a small business owner in Reno, suspicious that city hall’s cozying up to developers. You request emails or contracts to prove it. Under AB 51, you might get a bill for hundreds—maybe thousands—in “staff time” before seeing a page. Can’t pay? Tough luck. Or maybe your ask is “too broad”—say, a year’s worth of meeting minutes—and they shut you down. The dirt stays buried.

This isn’t hypothetical. Nevada’s got scars from opacity—think the Las Vegas Convention Authority’s 2015 spending spree, exposed only because someone demanded the receipts. Or Clark County Schools’ budget mess, dragged into light by relentless records requests. AB 51 could’ve smothered those fights, leaving taxpayers blind. Corruption doesn’t scream; it whispers. This bill mutes the whispers we need to hear.

And the fees? Outrageous. We already fund these agencies—DMV, county clerks, water boards—with our taxes. Now they want us to pay twice to watch them? That’s not efficiency; it’s a shakedown. A retiree in Pahrump, a single mom in Elko—they’ll be priced out of asking hard questions. Meanwhile, the bill carves out a break for media insiders, leaving the rest of us as second-class citizens. Since when do conservatives cheer for elitism?

A Conservative Stand

This isn’t about left or right—it’s about up and down. The government should answer to us, not the other way around. AB 51 flips that. It’s a power grab dressed up as practicality, betting Nevadans won’t notice the slow chokehold on our leverage. We’ve seen this playbook: bureaucrats build walls when they’ve got something to hide. From a conservative lens, it’s everything we despise—big government flexing, taxpayers footing the bill, and accountability fading like a desert mirage.

Rumors swirl that Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson and the Nevada League of Cities are nudging this along. If true, they’re selling out the folks they claim to serve. Local control’s great—until it means local secrecy. We don’t elect mayors or leagues to gatekeep our rights.

Why You Should Speak Out

Tuesday’s hearing in Carson City is your shot. AB 51’s not law yet, but silence lets it creep closer. Show up, testify, demand it’s scrapped—or at least gutted. Tell them transparency is non-negotiable. Tell them we won’t pay extra to police our own government. Tell them Nevada’s backbone isn’t bureaucrats—it’s us.

If you can’t make it, call your assemblyman. Flood their inboxes. Post on X—let ‘em know we’re watching. This bill’s a test: will we roll over, or will we roar? History says Nevadans don’t bow easy. Look at our tax revolts, our defiance of federal land grabs. We’ve got that DNA—use it.

The Stakes

AB 51 isn’t just about records; it’s about who runs this state. Pass it, and the balance tips—away from the people, toward the suits. Every dodged request, every fee, is a brick in a wall between us and the truth. Corruption festers in the dark. Waste multiplies unseen. And the little guy—working, paying, voting—loses most.

Nevada deserves better. We’re not a state of sheep. On February 25, prove it. Say no to AB 51. Demand the light stays on.

Keep an eye on the time and room for the hearing here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us

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