First elected as Senate leader in 2019, Nicole Cannizzaro (SD-6) has been selected by her Democratic colleagues to serve a fourth consecutive legislative session as Senate Majority Leader. She is the longest serving majority leader since Senator Bill Raggio last held the position during the 2007 session.

Cannizzaro was first elected to the Senate in 2016 and the state’s first female majority leader in 2019. The female majority has ushered in a variety of legislation aimed at expanding and protecting “women’s rights.”

Cannizzaro was the primary sponsor of SJR7, a constitutional amendment to codify abortion into the state constitution, and SJR8, the 2022 Equal Rights Amendment that amended the Nevada constitution to include gender identity and gender expression. Since its passage, Nevadan’s must pay for medicaid abortions and biological female athletes at University of Nevada Reno and high school campuses have been pressured to accept transgender women athletes as competitors and teammates.

Prior to the ERA’s passage in 2022, Cannizzaro testified that the language in the ERA would not provide funding for abortions.

“This year, Nevada voters sustained a strong Democratic majority in the state senate, and I am grateful that my colleagues have again selected me to serve as their Majority Leader,” said Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro. “Our first priority will always be the people of Nevada. I am excited to get back to work to bring down costs, protect our rights from federal overreach, make housing more affordable, and ensure all Nevadans have access to quality and affordable health care.”

In the coming weeks, Cannizzaro will make further announcements regarding her leadership team, committee chairs, and committee assignments. The 83rd legislative session begins on February 8, 2025.