Susie Lee (D-NV)
Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act aims to promote conservation and economic growth throughout the State of Nevada. The bill provides for land transfers into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe to support tribal empowerment. It adjusts various conservation area boundaries and establishes new special management areas within Clark County. Additionally, the legislation authorizes several land conveyances to local governments for public safety, water supply, and economic development. It also establishes new off-highway vehicle recreation areas and provides for the completion of specific infrastructure projects.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill transfers significant amounts of land into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe to support tribal empowerment.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill clarifies management areas, establishes new wilderness, and provides specific infrastructure support for public land use.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill establishes several Special Management Areas and wilderness designations to conserve and protect natural resources.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Tribal Land Trust Transfers: The bill transfers approximately 44,950 acres to the Moapa Band of Paiutes (Section 101) and approximately 3,156 acres to the Lass Vegas Paiute Tribe (Section 103) to be held in trust, which supports tribal reservation and economic development.
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Affordable Housing Prioritization: The Secretary is required to prioritize the review of applications from local government entities for land use intended for affordable housing (Section 203(c)).
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Public Safety and Infrastructure: The bill authorizes land conveyances for various public needs, including a fire training facility for North Las Vegas (Section 405), public safety and wildfire response facilities for Clark County (Section 403), and water supply infrastructure for the Moapa Valley Water District (Section 404).
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Recreation Opportunities: New off-highway vehicle recreation areas are established in Laughlin, Logandale Trails, Nelson Hills, and Sandy Valley (Section 701), and the bill provides for the completion of erosion control weirs on the lower Las Vegas Wash (Section 702).
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Economic Development: The bill provides for the Clark County Job Creation Zone, allowing for nonresidential development (Section 210), and provides for the implementation of the Lower Virgin River watershed plan (Section 501).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Land Use: The establishment of several Special Management Areas (Section 204) and the designation of various Wilderness areas (Section 301) include prohibitions on motorized vehicles and withdrawals from certain forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under public land laws.
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Tribal Land Use Limitations: Land taken into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes is explicitly ineligible for class II or class III gaming (Section 101(e)), and land taken into trust for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe is similarly ineligible for such gaming (Section 103(f)).
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Tribal Right-of-Way Requirements: As a condition of land transfer, the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe must grant a 300-foot-wide right-of-way to a qualified electric utility for high-voltage transmission facilities (Section 103(e)).
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Potential Environmental/Public Safety Liabilities: Local government conveyances include provisions where, if land is returned to the United States due to a change in use, the local entity (City or County) may be responsible for the remediation of any hazardous waste contamination (Sections 401(d), 402(d), 403(d), 404(d), and 405(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill transfers significant amounts of land into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe to support tribal empowerment. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides critical water supply and infrastructure support for rural communities in the Moapa Valley. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides opportunities for nonresidential development and land use that supports local business growth. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill addresses urban needs through affordable housing and public safety infrastructure in Clark County. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill's emphasis on affordable housing may benefit low-income households.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill clarifies management areas, establishes new wilderness, and provides specific infrastructure support for public land use. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill establishes several Special Management Areas and wilderness designations to conserve and protect natural resources. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides land conveyances to support rural water supply and infrastructure for the Moapa Valley. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill supports high-voltage transmission facilities for renewable energy development via rights-of-way.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — By promoting conservation and economic development through land transfers and local government conveyances, the bill seeks to boost the regional economy. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill facilitates economic development through land conveyances for nonresidential development and job creation zones.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill prioritizes the review of land application processes for local governments seeking to develop affordable housing.
- 3/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/14/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mark AmodeiRepublican · Nevada
Steven HorsfordDemocrat · Nevada