Governor signs Carson High student’s bill into law

Gov. Joe Lombardo on Tuesday signed into law Nevada Youth Legislator Stella Thornton’s Senate Bill 80, an education measure revising provisions relating to the prevention and treatment of injuries to the head during participation in certain activities.

Lombardo’s approval came a day after the Nevada Legislature’s regular session closed, with his signing before 9:30 p.m. and the Secretary of the State filing before 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Thornton said. While she said there was some confusion in the final hours whether it would receive approval, she was “extremely happy” he signed it.

“I truly hope the governor will have time to do a ceremonial signing for a youth legislative bill since it’s such an important bill,” Thornton told the Appeal on Wednesday.

Thornton graduated from Carson High School on June 3 and has served in the Nevada Youth Legislature program for the past two years learning about the state Legislature and advocating for SB80. She has conducted research for her Advanced Placement Research class, given presentations before the Carson City School Board, drafted language for her proposal and made amendments according to suggestions from representatives on top of her daily responsibilities.

“I think right now it hasn’t fully set in yet,” she said about the bill’s passage. “I think it’s hard because it is SB80 and it was a palatable form of legislation. Now it’s the law and it’s not necessarily a figurative thing, not necessarily something you can touch.”

Reflecting on her time as a youth legislator, she said she was excited for the state’s incoming students who will be serving in the new term. She hoped they would enjoy their experience as she did.

“I’m grateful to the entire Nevada Youth Legislature and to the retired Sen. Valerie Wiener who helped make the Nevada Youth Legislature possible,” she said.

Thornton also acknowledged administrators from the Carson City School District, experts Dr. Nicholas Murray, head of the University of Nevada, Reno Neuromechanics Laboratory and Adam Hunsaker, an athletic trainer for Carson-Tahoe Health assigned at CHS, and family members who testified in support of SB80, during the session to help it become law.

“I’m grateful to every person this past two years in my journey who saw it was so important in making sure concussions and brain injuries are seen and that they deserve as much education as possible,” Thornton said.