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AB 70

Relating to: a disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Allen and 10 co-sponsors

Counties may require renewable-energy project applicants on federal land to reimburse up to $50,000 for NEPA/EIS participation, with prepayment and refund rules.

Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families
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Bill Summary · AB 70

AB 70 (BDR 58‑454) — Summary (Revises provisions related to energy)

Status: Enacted (Chapter 19). Introduced: Dec 11, 2024. Sponsor: Committee on Growth and Infrastructure (on behalf of Nevada Association of Counties).

Main purpose

AB 70 authorizes counties to recover limited costs when participating in the federal environmental review for certain renewable energy projects located on federal land, and it gives the State Office of Energy authority to condition state partial tax abatements on compliance with that cost‑recovery requirement. The bill also protects applicants who receive county approval or recommendation from later-imposed local actions (certain permit conditions or moratoria) that would make a project financially or operationally impractical.

Key provisions

  • County cost recovery for EIS participation

    • A county may require an applicant for a state partial tax abatement (per NRS 701A.300–701A.390) for eligible renewable energy facilities located on federal land to reimburse the county for its actual administrative and operational costs to participate in preparing any Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required under NEPA.
    • Reimbursement is capped at $50,000 per facility (including necessary ancillary facilities), unless the county has adopted an alternative cost‑recovery mechanism or fee structure.
    • Counties may require prepayment of the anticipated amount; if actual costs are less, the county must refund the difference. Applicants may require the county to produce documentation of actual costs.

  • Types of facilities covered

    • Facilities for generation of process heat from solar renewable energy, wholesale electric generation from renewable energy, energy storage facilities for renewable generation, or hybrid renewable generation and storage facilities.

  • State Office of Energy authority

    • The Director of the Office of Energy (within the Governor’s Office) may condition approval of an application for a partial state tax abatement on the applicant’s compliance with the county reimbursement requirement.

  • Protections after county approval/recommendation

    • If a county has approved or recommended approval of an application for a partial abatement, the county may not thereafter:
    • Impose special use permit requirements that would reasonably and foreseeably make development or operation of the facility financially or operationally impractical or impossible; or
    • Apply any moratorium on renewable energy that would apply to the facility.

  • Other process items

    • Provisions rely on the existing application/notice framework for partial abatements (county receives application and is to act on it within the statutory process); many existing eligibility and director‑approval criteria remain in place.

Who is affected

  • Counties: may recover limited costs for NEPA participation; must document costs and follow refund/prepayment rules.
  • Renewable energy project applicants (developers): those seeking partial state tax abatements for qualifying facilities on federal land may need to pay up to $50,000 to counties for EIS participation and comply with county documentation/prepayment rules.
  • Nevada Office of Energy: may condition abatement approvals on payment and administer related requirements.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Committee reports indicate no anticipated fiscal effect on state or local government budgets beyond the limited cost‑recovery mechanism.
  • The bill includes limits (maximum $50,000) and procedural safeguards (documentation, prepayment/refund) intended to constrain and make transparent county cost recovery.
  • Effective date language appears in bill versions; as enacted the measure is chaptered (Chapter 19). (Check the final enrolled act for the exact effective date and any sunset language in the enacted text.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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