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AJR 4

Revises provisions relating to the legislative process. (BDR C-22)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Heidi Kasama

Proposed amendment would bar appropriations to political organizations and nonprofits in budget bills and give the Governor a limited line-item veto to strike specific appropriatio

(Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed.)
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Bill Summary · AJR 4

Summary — AJR 4 (BDR C-22)

Type: Assembly Joint Resolution proposing amendments to the Nevada Constitution
Introduced: Prefiled Jan 24, 2025; introduced Mar 20, 2025
Status: Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections; (Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1) no further action allowed.
Fiscal note: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: Yes.

Note: The provided packet also included an unrelated California resolution about a Medi‑Cal audit. The constitutional amendment text below is the Nevada AJR 4 (BDR C‑22) that would revise Nevada’s legislative/appropriations rules.

Main purpose

AJR 4 proposes to amend Articles 4, Sections 19 and 35 of the Nevada Constitution to:
1. Prohibit certain appropriations from the State Treasury (to political organizations and certain nonprofit appropriations), and
2. Grant the Governor a limited line‑item veto power for appropriations contained in bills, with specified procedures and a legislative override mechanism.

Key provisions

  • Amendment to Article 4, Section 19:

    • Reaffirms that money may be drawn from the treasury only by law.
    • Prohibits any appropriation to a political organization (explicitly includes political parties and political action committees).
    • Prohibits including an appropriation to a nonprofit organization in any bill that is required to fund a portion of the state budget for the next ensuing biennium.
    • Defines “biennium” as two fiscal years beginning July 1 of an odd‑numbered year.

  • Amendment to Article 4, Section 35 (Governor’s action on bills):

    • Grants the Governor authority to strike (line‑item veto) one or more appropriations contained in a bill without vetoing the bill as a whole.
    • Requires the Governor, within 48 hours after presentation of the bill, to attach a statement listing the appropriations stricken and the reasons, and to transmit that statement to the originating House (or to the Secretary of State if the Legislature has adjourned sine die).
    • If the Governor fails to transmit the statement within 48 hours, any appropriation stricken becomes law (i.e., the strike is ineffective).
    • Allows the Legislature to restore any stricken appropriation by the same two‑thirds vote required to override a gubernatorial veto. If the Legislature does not act, the stricken appropriation is deemed not appropriated.
    • Declares the resolution effective upon passage.

Who would be affected / potential impacts

  • Political organizations: direct appropriations to political parties or PACs would be constitutionally prohibited.
  • Nonprofit organizations: the amendment would bar including appropriations to nonprofits in bills that are required to fund any portion of the state budget for the next biennium — this could limit the Legislature’s ability to bundle targeted grants to nonprofits within certain budget bills, affecting program design and funding flexibility.
  • Executive branch (Governor): gains authority to remove appropriations from bills without rejecting the entire bill, increasing control over specific spending lines.
  • Legislature: faces a new check on restoring stricken appropriations (requires the two‑thirds override) and will need to adapt bill drafting and budget strategies.
  • State budgeting process: could change how appropriations are presented and negotiated; may shift some disputes to the post‑presentation 48‑hour window and to override votes.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • AJR 4 is a proposed constitutional amendment (text amends Nevada Constitution, Art. 4 §§19, 35).
  • Legislative actions recorded: prefiled Jan 24, 2025; referred to committee; printed; later (Apr 12, 2025) designated as having no further action allowed under Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1.
  • Because it is a constitutional amendment resolution, adoption would alter the Nevada Constitution as specified in the resolution text; typical additional steps for constitutional amendments (e.g., voter submission) are governed by Nevada law and are not detailed in the resolution text supplied.

If you want, I can (1) draft a short plain‑language one‑page explainer of likely operational effects on state budgeting, or (2) extract and present the exact amended constitutional language side‑by‑side with current text.

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

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