Nevada’s legislative session has unleashed a trio of bills, SB451, AB530, and AB69, that threaten the core Republican principle of limited government and taxpayer sovereignty. These measures, which extend or perpetuate taxes without voter consent, are a betrayal of the people’s trust and a direct assault on fiscal responsibility. Republicans in the Assembly and Senate have the power to stop them, and you, the voter, must demand they do so.
SB451 extends a “temporary” Clark County property tax, originally a 20-cent charge per $100 of assessed value, set to expire in 2027, for another 30 years until 2057. Voters approved this tax in 1996 for police funding, expecting it to sunset. Now, the bill hands the decision to county commissioners, bypassing a public vote. Clark County’s 2025 budget reveals over $1.8 billion in non-essential spending, $271 million for park upgrades, $634 million for office remodels, $56 million for climate outreach, while only $155 million is needed to maintain 800 police officers. Extending this tax without voter approval is not fiscal necessity; it’s political opportunism.
AB530 shifts Clark County’s fuel tax increase decisions from voters to commissioners starting in 2027, removing the 2026 voter approval requirement and extending the tax through 2036. A new voter approval clause for 2037 is a hollow gesture, easily undone by future legislative maneuvers, as we’re witnessing now. This bill ensures perpetual tax hikes without public input, a clear violation of Republican values.
AB69 makes Nye County’s sales and use tax, set to expire in 2027, permanent by removing its sunset date. This tax funds public safety, a noble cause, but permanence without voter consent is indefensible. Republicans must honor the principle that taxes require the people’s approval, not the whims of elected officials.
These bills echo Thomas Jefferson’s 1789 warning: imposing taxes without consent is “an act of force.” Republicans who support them risk repeating the 2015 Commerce Tax debacle, which fractured the party and cost electoral victories. With a two-thirds majority required for tax bills, unified Republican opposition in the Senate can stop AB530 and AB69, while Assembly Republicans can halt SB451.
Take Action Now: Contact your Republican representatives and demand they vote “no” on these bills. For SB451, email Assembly Republicans: lisa.cole@asm.state.nv.us, Rich.Delong@asm.state.nv.us, Jill.Dickman@asm.state.nv.us, rebecca.edgeworth@asm.state.nv.us, Danielle.Gallant@asm.state.nv.us, Ken.Gray@asm.state.nv.us, Bert.Gurr@asm.state.nv.us, Gregory.Hafen@asm.state.nv.us, Alexis.Hansen@asm.state.nv.us, Melissa.Hardy@asm.state.nv.us, Brian.Hibbetts@asm.state.nv.us, Heidi.Kasama@asm.state.nv.us, Gregory.Koenig@asm.state.nv.us, PK.Oneill@asm.state.nv.us, Toby.Yurek@asm.state.nv.us. For AB530 and AB69, email Senate Republicans: Carrie.Buck@sen.state.nv.us, John.Ellison@sen.state.nv.us, Ira.Hansen@sen.state.nv.us, Lisa.Krasner@sen.state.nv.us, Lori.Rogich@sen.state.nv.us, John.Steinbeck@sen.state.nv.us, Jeff.Stone@sen.state.nv.us, Robin.Titus@sen.state.nv.us. Alternatively, call their offices, numbers are available at the Nevada Legislature’s website.
Republicans were elected to protect taxpayers, not to rubber-stamp tax extensions. These bills undermine the voice of the people and erode trust in governance. Tell your representatives to vote “no” and restore the Republican commitment to liberty and accountability. The time to act is now.
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