The remodeled west entrance to the Nevada Legislature Building on South Carson Street on Jan. 24.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
With state lawmakers coming to town for the legislative session starting Feb. 3, the Carson City Board of Supervisors has been busy organizing priorities including a bill to study the V&T Railway Commission.
“For the upcoming 83rd session, the city worked with Storey County to develop Assembly Bill 32,” Cameron Gresh, Carson City public information officer and government affairs liaison, told the Appeal. “This bill would direct the 2025-26 interim Growth and Infrastructure Committee of the Nevada Legislature to conduct a study of the Commission for the Reconstruction of the Virginia & Truckee Railway, on which both Carson City and Storey County serve.
“The focus of this study (and the resulting report suggesting legislation, if deemed necessary by the committee) would be centered on determining how to improve the long-term financial viability of the commission, and whether or not the Legislature deems it necessary to reorganize the structure of the commission, modify its duties or powers, or terminate it.”
Assembly Bill 32 was pre-filed Nov. 15, according to the Nevada Electronic Legislative Information System. The Carson City Board of Supervisors approved revised language of the bill draft Nov. 7, unanimously.
“The city made this request to the Legislature because, even though both Carson City and Storey County treasure this resource, the tourism revenue generated by the railroad in its current state isn’t enough to offset the costs of maintaining its aging structures or operating historic locomotives,” Gresh said.
Gresh provided the following history:
“The Virginia and Truckee (V&T) Railroad is one of the most famous short lines in American history. It was incorporated on March 5, 1868, to serve the mines of the Comstock.
“After nearly 100 years of operation, the railroad ceased functioning. The Virginia City branch shut down in 1939, followed by the Carson to Reno service in 1950.
“In the early 1990s, V&T Railway enthusiasts along with Storey County, Carson City, and state officials began studying the possibility of reconstructing the historic rail line between Virginia City and Carson City.
“A financial study was commissioned, which indicated that the railroad was feasible, and the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway was created to raise money for the project; to date $25 million has been invested.”
Gresh said Carson and Storey County have subsidized the railway through sales tax and room tax revenue where it’s “not operating at a loss, but the governments of Carson City and Storey County do not have the means to complete the project as originally envisioned.”
Besides developing the V&T bill, supervisors have set a standing agenda item at each city meeting during the legislative session so they can address, support or oppose any proposed bill. Bills being tracked by the city are online: carson.org/government/departments-a-f/city-manager-s-office/82nd-legislative-session.
So far, the city’s action has been limited to the V&T bill and supporting a handful of bills from the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) and Nevada League of Cities (NLC).
The NACO and NLC bills endorsed by the city, according to Gresh, include:
• Assembly Bill 14 that would require county elected officials to be registered voters in the state.
• Assembly Bill 51 allowing government entities to collect a fee for filling public records requests and requiring requesters provide identifying information.
• Senate Bill 51 that would reimburse cities and counties “for the cost of reducing or subsidizing certain fees to assist in maintenance and development of affordable housing.”
• Senate Bill 65 clarifying what is a public record from a medical examiner or coroner.
• Senate Bill 73 related to county and city clerks allowing inspection of registered voter signatures but not copies of signatures.
Supervisors approved endorsement of these bills Jan. 16, with Supervisor Maurice White voting no, saying he wanted more time for review.