Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-237.
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 provide conservation and economic development for the State of Nevada. The bill facilitates land transfers to the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe to support tribal empowerment. It adjusts boundaries for several conservation areas, including Red Rock Canyon and Sloan Canyon, and establishes various special management areas. Additionally, the act authorizes land conveyances to several local government entities for public safety, water supply, and economic development. It also establishes several new off-highway vehicle recreation areas and authorizes the completion of specific flood control infrastructure.
Yes· 3 of 14
- Scored +7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill facilitates significant land transfers into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill establishes several special management areas for the conservation and protection of natural resources.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill adjusts boundaries and establishes management areas to enhance land conservation.
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 Ownership: The bill transfers approximately 44,950 acres to the Moapa Band of Paiutes (Section 101) and approximately 3,156 acres to the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe (Section 103) to be held in trust, which supports tribal reservation and economic development.
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Affordable Housing Support: The Secretary is directed to prioritize the review of applications from local governmental entities to use land for affordable housing purposes (Section 203(c)).
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Public Safety and Infrastructure: The bill authorizes land conveyances to Clark County for public safety and wildfire response (Section s 403), to the Moapa Valley Water District for rural water supply access (Section 404), and to the City of North Las Vegas for a fire training facility (Section 405).
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Recreation Opportunities: New off-highway vehicle recreation areas are established in Laughlin, Logandale Trails, Nelson Hills, and Sandy Valley to preserve and enhance these uses (Section 701).
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Water Management: The bill authorizes the construction of six erosion control weirs on the lower Las Vegas Wash (Section 702) and allows for the design and construction of flood control facilities in the Coyote Springs area (Section 703).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Gaming Restrictions: Land taken into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes (Section 101(e)) and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe (Section 103(f)) is explicitly ineligible for class II or class III gaming.
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Utility Constraints for Tribes: The transfer of land to the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe is subject to a condition requiring the Tribe to 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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Land Use Restrictions in Management Areas: In designated Special Management Areas, the use of motorized vehicles is restricted to specific designated roads and routes (Section 204(d)(3)). Additionally, these areas are withdrawn from many forms of entry, including mining and mineral leasing (Section 204(g)).
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Environmental and Financial Responsibilities: For several land conveyances to local governments—including Boulder City, Mesquite, Clark County, the Moapa Valley Water District, and North Las Vegas—the recipient entities are held responsible for the remediation of any hazardous waste contamination if the land reverts to the United States (Sections 401(d)(2), 402(d)(2), 403(d)(2), 404(d)(2), and 405(d)(2)).
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.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill establishes several special management areas for the conservation and protection of natural resources. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill adjusts boundaries and establishes management areas to enhance land conservation. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill provides land for public safety, wildfire response, and flood control facilities. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill supports rural water supply access through land conveyances to the Moapa Valley Water District. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill facilitates renewable energy transmission through required rights-of-way for electric utilities.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill facilitates significant land transfers into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions to prioritize affordable housing development. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports rural water supply access and off-highway vehicle recreation. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill supports nonresidential development opportunities for local government entities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill provides infrastructure and land for public purpose conveyances in urban and suburban areas.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill encourages regional economic development via land disposals and tribal economic empowerment. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill facilitates economic development through land transfers 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 for affordable housing purposes.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides land conveyances to support the Nevada Cancer Institute.
- 12/2/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-237.
- 3/12/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.