Collective bargaining bill passes Nevada Legislature panel

A Nevada Senate bill that would give certain state workers the right to collectively bargain has passed its first legislative hurdle.

Legislators on Wednesday passed the measure out of a state Senate committee in a party-line vote. Nevada state workers last week flooded a legislative hearing and urged lawmakers to support the legislation.

Enacting collective bargaining for state workers has remained an elusive goal of supportive Nevada lawmakers for decades.

Nevada Democrats have identified the measure as a legislative priority this session and Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak has said he believes state employees should be able to collectively bargain in the years ahead.

Two Republican senators, Ben Kieckhefer and Pete Goicoechea, voted against moving the bill forward.