Legislative briefs

Bill would ensure equal services for lawmakers

Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, introduced legislation Monday to prohibit any licensed professional in a regulated business from refusing to provide service to a legislator.

SB311 would apply to any member of a profession, occupation or business regulated by an occupational licensing board. That would apply, among others, to those in the medical profession.

It would prohibit denying services to a lawmaker or a former member of the Legislature "based on the vote or abstention of that legislator on any proposed legislation or other matter on which a vote is taken."

Violation would be grounds for disciplinary action by the occupational licensing board.

Carlton was not available due to a death in her family to explain why she requested the legislation.

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Bill seeks to name Legislature after Jacobsen

Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, has introduced a bill to name the legislative building after former Sen. Lawrence Jacobsen, R-Minden.

He retired last year after a record 40 years in the Senate and Assembly.

Townsend said Jacobsen led the Legislative Commission during construction of the Legislature and was speaker of the Assembly during the first session in the building in 1971. He also served on the committee that designed and built the expansion of the Legislature in 1997.

Jacobsen devoted many hours to making sure the building and grounds were maintained and continually improved. If SB365 is passed, the facility will be formally named the Lawrence E. Jacobsen Legislative Building.

The bill was referred to the Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations.

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Senate bill seeks to list lawmakers who request bills

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, has introduced legislation to require lawmakers to put their name on the bills they request.

The issue is similar to one being debated in the Assembly. Titus has championed similar legislation in the past. This session, the legislation was prompted by the bill draft request made by Carson City Republican Assemblyman Ron Knecht who filed for a bill renaming Nevada East California to protest Gov. Kenny Guinn's package of tax increases. That bill draft would also have declared the Beatles' song "Taxman" the state song and the state animal the "RINO" -- an acronym for Republican In Name Only, a slap at Guinn.