b'2023 WPMA State Report NEVADAPetroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association ReportSILVER STATE SUMMARYWhen you read thisthe Nevada Legislature will be in its last couple of weeksPeter Kruegerof the 82nd Session. Why should you care? Because Mark Twain once said, ThatNPM&CSA government is best which governs least. The Gang of 63 will leave Carson City on Executive Director June 5th and not return until February 2025. While this is a good thing, remember its the regulations that agencies adopt from the bills passed this session that will likely cause your company problems.More than 800 bills will have passed by June 5th! Fortunately, there are not many fuel bills but our convenience retailers will be on the receiving end of a number of tobacco and workplace legislative mandates. Small business was again in the crosshairs of many legislators who seem to think that business will simply absorb all new mandates without cost to the consumer.In the end, having two-party rule works best in Nevada. While the legislature is in the firm grip of the Democrats and the Governors office in the hands of the Republicans, words like bipartisanship, compromise and discussion seem to rule the day. To wit,I recently observed the Senate Majority floor leader and the Minority leader in what appeared to be in conciliatory conversation as they entered the Senate dining room. This didnt happen in the last session. As I write this, we are at the half-way point of the 120-day session. The first major deadline occurred on April 14th when all bills must be voted out of the Assembly.This was our first real look at what the Democrat leadership in both houses believes has a chance to make it to the Governors desk without fear of a veto. While I believe Governor Lombardo has indicated he will tap the brakes on someclimate change legislation and regulations, climate change advocates will not be deterred. Their latest ploy is to offer State Constitutional amendments which cannot be vetoed by the Governor. Assembly Joint Resolution 3 or AJR3 seeks to amend the Nevada State Constitution by creating a public trust of all land and air resources. What this means is that each citizen is a trustee of these resources and has a direct say on how they are used. One can only imagine if someone wants to develop a new mine, factory or maybe even residential development - a trustee (i.e., any citizen), could object on the grounds that it harms the land or air that is held in the public trust. Should AJR3 pass both houses of the legislature this session, it will go before the 2025 legislative session, and if it passes unchanged will go to the voters at the next state-wide general election, probably November 2026. If passed by the voters, AJR 3 will become part of the Nevada State Constitution. This is how we now govern in Nevada.Though not all is doom and gloomas I pointed out above, it appears a new spirit of cooperation is emerging between the parties, at least at the leadership level, and we again enjoy two-party rule in Carson City.SWPMA News / Post WPMAEXPO 202325'