As the 2025 Nevada Legislative Session comes to a close, Chispa Nevada is taking a moment to celebrate as we plan what’s next: Out of 7 bills we prioritized, we got 6 wins! Read on for the details.
Clean Energy Access & Utility Accountability
Utility bills are simply unaffordable for many Nevadans. Going into the 2025 session, we wanted to provide relief from high rates for working families and hold utility corporations accountable to transparency and fairness.
The legislature took steps in the right direction: we expanded access to cheaper clean energy, put more funding into electricity cost-cutting programs, and increased transparency on which Nevadans get disconnected from utility service. The Public Utilities Commission will also finally start looking into how fuel costs should be shared by utilities — not just paid for by customers.
Here are 4 bills that are wins for Nevadans struggling with high NV Energy bills:
- Senate Bill 132 – Provides $500,000 to the Nevada Clean Energy Fund, our state’s “green bank,” to help Nevadans lower their electricity bills through energy-efficiency and clean energy upgrades.
- Assembly Bill 458 – Expands access to solar energy for renters living in affordable housing.
- Assembly Bill 452 – Directs the Public Utilities Commission to investigate how utilities can share in fuel expenses rather than passing the cost entirely onto customers. Also requires NV Energy to fully refund customers who have been overcharged by the company.
- Senate Bill 442 – Requires utilities to share data on disconnections with the Public Utilities Commission.
These bills passed even though corporations like NV Energy and Southwest Gas fought hard to block consumer protections and savings from solar energy, all so they could increase their profits at our expense. Unfortunately, Southwest Gas succeeded in limiting transparency on their rates, passing one bill we opposed:
- Senate Bill 417 – Allows Southwest Gas to charge formula rates, which could lead to automatic gas rate increases with less oversight from the Public Utilities Commission.
We also wanted to pass stronger protections for utility customers to prevent disconnections during extreme weather conditions, like dangerously high temperatures, through Assembly Bill 456. Unfortunately, the bill never advanced after introduction.
La lucha sigue. We will continue pushing for utility accountability, affordable rates, and clean energy.
Protecting Communities From Climate Impacts
Latine families are also extremely worried about our changing climate and made it clear they want legislators to protect our communities from extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and other dangers to our health and jobs.
The Legislature made progress while striking compromises along the way. Even as our state lacks a clear plan to mitigate environmental injustices and make our neighborhoods resilient to climate change, we are cementing protections for some vulnerable workers and communities.
- Assembly Bill 96 – Clark and Washoe counties will consider how to address extreme heat as part of their master plans, resulting in more parks, shaded areas and cooling stations in the hottest areas of town.
- Senate Bill 260 – Requires employers to write plans to protect outdoor workers from poor air quality due to wildfire smoke.
This bill passed the Nevada Legislature but was sadly voted by Governor Lombardo, who chose to stand with corporations over workers:
- Assembly Bill 414 – Requires employers to write plans to protect warehouse workers from extreme heat and air toxins.
How We Did It
This progress wouldn’t have been possible without the advocacy and organizing of dozens of Chispa Nevada members who made their voices heard at the Legislature and with their individual representatives. Thank you for fighting for our comunidad!
- 61 Chispa Nevada members traveled to Carson City to participate in Environmental Justice Lobby Day, Latino Lobby Day, and Conservation Lobby Day
- We sent personalized emails and made calls to dozens of legislators
- We helped educate hundreds of members about bills that matter to our community
Much of this work also happened in coordination with partners like the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition and the Nevada Conservation League.
What Comes Next
Implementation! We have to make sure our county governments, green bank, state agencies, and Public Utilities Commission are implementing these bills equitably to benefit the communities most affected by high utility bills, extreme heat, air pollution and corporate greed.
We also know that our policy is only as good as our legislators — and we need more champions for climate justice and Latine working families in the Nevada Legislature.
Want to make a difference in the next legislative session? Join the Chispa Nevada Legislative Comité!