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AB 242

Relating to: tampering with telecommunication or electric wires and providing a penalty.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elijah Behnke and 12 co-sponsors

AB 242 would require the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council to regulate a formal mitigation program with credit/debit systems, including application, review, appeal, and periodic project

Published 8-9-2025
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Bill Summary · AB 242

AB 242 — Revises provisions relating to the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council (BDR 18‑214)

Status: Introduced; no further action taken (as of 2025‑06‑03)
Introduced: Jan 14, 2025 (referred to Government Affairs; bill text cited as amendment to NRS 232.162)

Purpose / Intent

AB 242 would require the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council (within the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) to establish, by regulation, a formal mitigation program to address damage to sagebrush ecosystems. The program builds on the Council’s existing authority to create a credit/debit system for habitat protection, enhancement, and restoration and aims to standardize application, review, appeal and oversight procedures for projects that create credits or acquire debits.

Key provisions

  • Amends NRS 232.162 to require the Council to adopt regulations establishing a mitigation program that:
    • Defines the process for entities (individuals, federal/state agencies, local governments, nonprofits) to apply to participate by proposing credit-creating activities or acquiring debits to offset habitat loss.
    • Establishes procedures for review and decision‑making on applications.
    • Creates an appeal process for applicants contesting Council decisions.
    • Requires a process for periodic review of projects and activities that were approved to generate credits or acquire debits.
  • Early bill text (as introduced) would have required the Council to develop a habitat quantification tool (HQT) and to set forth any method or formula used by that tool in regulation. Subsequent Committee amendments narrowed the language: the reprinted/committee version focuses on the application/review/appeal/periodic‑review processes rather than explicitly prescribing publication of an HQT formula.
  • Fiscal note: State fiscal impact indicated (effect on state: yes; effect on local government: no). Separate public comment materials reference an estimated Conservation Credit System cost (approx. $811,548) for future biennia.

Who would be affected

  • Project proponents (private landowners, energy/mining/agriculture interests), federal and state agencies, local governments and nonprofits proposing activities that affect sagebrush habitat.
  • Sagebrush Ecosystem Council and staff (rulemaking, review, oversight duties).
  • Indirectly, conservation interests, tribes, wildlife agencies, and species dependent on sagebrush (e.g., greater sage‑grouse, pinyon jay).

Procedural history & timeline

  • Referred to Government Affairs (Feb 2025); heard and amended in committee (Amend. No. 232); re‑referred to Appropriations and suspense file. Committee actions include “Do pass as amended” and placement on suspense; bill held under submission. Final status recorded: “No further action taken” (06/03/2025).
  • Proposed effective dates appeared in various amendment drafts (January 1, 2027 and July 31, 2027) but the provided reprint does not show a single final effective date.

Public input / comments

  • Supporters argue the bill increases transparency, reproducibility and consistency in how credits/debits are computed and administered.
  • Opponents (conservation groups and others) raise concerns that market-style credit systems may not adequately protect place‑specific species (e.g., sage‑grouse), could harm other habitats/species (pinyon‑juniper impacts), and may inadequately demonstrate biological effectiveness.

Note: The bill evolved in committee from a statutory requirement to develop and publish an HQT to a narrower regulatory directive focused on application, review, appeal and periodic review processes.

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

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