Election Day brought about a shift in Nevada politics. For the first time in 20 years, Nevada will have a Democratic governor. There will also be a democratic majority in both houses of the Nevada Legislature. This will likely have a significant effect on the 2019 Legislative Session, which begins February 4, 2019.
Minimum Wage
During the 2017 Legislative Session, there were several bills introduced to raise Nevada’s minimum wage. All bills failed—either because they didn’t make it out of the legislature or were vetoed by Governor Sandoval. Nevertheless, everyone was expecting minimum wage to come up again in 2019. With the election of Steve Sisolak as Nevada’s next governor, we could be looking at a very different outcome this legislative session.
Paid Sick Leave
Following the lead of several other western states, Nevada considered whether to implement paid sick leave for certain employers during the 2017 Legislative Session. This measure passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor Sandoval. With a democratic majority in the legislature and a democratic governor, we should expect some form of paid sick leave to make into law this legislative session.
Protections for Employees
During the 2017 Legislative Session, we saw the passage of the Nevada Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act, leave for victims of domestic violence, and accommodations for nursing mothers. All of these measures, which were signed into law by Governor Sandoval, provided additional state law employee benefits and/or protections. Employers should expect to see bills introduced that provide additional employment-related protections to employees during the upcoming session.
Ban the Box
Nevada implemented “ban the box” for public employers in 2017—thereby banning public employers from inquiring about criminal history prior to the final in-person interview or there has been a conditional offer of employment. We have been advising employers to expect this requirement to apply to private employment at some point in the future. Based on the midterm election results, this may get implemented on private employers sooner than previously anticipated.
NAE will continue to follow the latest developments at the state capital to keep members up-to-date on matters that affect Nevada business. We monitor legislative process and regulatory decisions so you don’t have to. Nevada businesses trust that they are getting the latest information on their rights and obligations as employers from NAE because it’s what we do.
Want to be proactive? Join NAE for Preview: 2019 Legislative Session on Friday, January 18, 2019. Our distinguished presenters will provide a preview of the upcoming legislative session so you can be better prepared for what may be coming in 2019 and beyond.
