Bill
AB 144
NEVADA designates the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day and requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation promoting Indigenous culture, history, and land s
Status
- Enacted. Approved by the Governor and chaptered as Chapter 105, Statutes of 2025 (effective upon passage and approval).
Purpose
- To change Nevada’s official observance of “Indigenous Peoples Day” from a fixed date (previously August 9) to the second Monday in October each year and to require the Governor to annually issue a proclamation encouraging observance and specifying certain content for that proclamation.
Key provisions
- Amends NRS 236.037 to:
- Establish the second Monday in October of each year as “Indigenous Peoples Day” in Nevada.
- Require the Governor to annually issue a proclamation encouraging observance of the day. The proclamation must, at minimum:
- Call on news media, state and local officers, nonprofits, schools, businesses and other entities to raise public awareness of the importance of Indigenous communities in Nevada.
- Acknowledge the culture, history, and significant contributions of Indigenous communities in Nevada and globally.
- Promote public engagement in volunteer stewardship activities that support preservation of public lands that are important to Indigenous communities.
- Effective date: upon passage and approval.
Who is affected / likely impacts
- State government: creates a recurring gubernatorial proclamation duty and refocuses an official observance to a new annual date.
- Indigenous communities: formal recognition aligned with the date observed by many jurisdictions and Indigenous groups; increases emphasis on cultural acknowledgment and land stewardship in official messaging.
- Public institutions (schools, media, nonprofits, businesses): called upon in the proclamation to participate in awareness and stewardship activities.
- Communities and groups that observe Columbus Day: the change places Nevada’s Indigenous Peoples Day on the federal/Columbus Day holiday (second Monday in October). The bill does not repeal Columbus Day statutes but changes when Nevada-designated Indigenous Peoples Day is observed.
Procedural and fiscal notes
- Introduced (prefiled) in January 2025. Passed both houses, enrolled, presented to the Governor, and chaptered September 17, 2025.
- Fiscal note in committee: no effect on state or local government.
Public comment (summary)
- Committee records show both support (advocates urging alignment with national observance and tribal preference) and opposition (concerns about replacing or diminishing Columbus Day). The law itself changes Nevada’s statutory observance date and sets proclamation requirements; it does not explicitly repeal federal or other state observances.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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