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AB 354

Revises provisions relating to the Nevada State Board on Geographic Names. (BDR 26-718)

2025 Regular Session

The bill changes the Nevada State Board on Geographic Names to have fewer voting members (9) by converting three federal seats to nonvoting advisory roles, while keeping federal in

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 145.
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Bill Summary · AB 354

AB 354 — Summary (Nevada 2025 session)

Chapter 145 (Approved by the Governor July 14, 2025)
Effective date: July 1, 2025

Purpose and intent

AB 354 revises the statutory membership and voting structure of the Nevada State Board on Geographic Names (NSBGN) to (1) update state agency representation, (2) clarify that the Department of Native American Affairs appointee is from Nevada’s state department, and (3) change certain federal agency participants from voting members to nonvoting, advisory members. The changes were informed by federal-ethics concerns about federal employees serving as voting members on a state board.

Key provisions

  • Amends NRS 327.120 (membership of the NSBGN).
  • Changes board composition:
    • Removes the Nevada Historical Society as a voting member and adds the Division of Museums and History of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs as its replacement.
    • Clarifies that the Department of Native American Affairs representative is from the Nevada state department.
    • Reduces the number of voting members from 12 to 9 by converting three federal agency seats (United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, United States National Park Service) into nonvoting advisory positions.
  • Establishes that the three identified federal agencies will continue to participate as nonvoting, advisory members to the Board.
  • Maintains the Inter‑Tribal Council of Nevada (or successor organization) as a member.
  • Retains an Executive Secretary as a nonvoting member, selected by the voting members.
  • Transition/continuity provision: a person serving as the Nevada Historical Society representative on the Board on July 1, 2025, may continue to serve until that person’s successor is designated under the amended statute.

Who is affected

  • Nevada State Board on Geographic Names — membership, voting composition and decision‑making dynamics will change.
  • State agencies named in statute (Division of Museums and History; Department of Native American Affairs; Department of Transportation; Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Bureau of Mines and Geology; State Library/Archives; state university faculty seats, etc.) — continue to hold designated voting seats.
  • Federal agencies (BLM, USFS, NPS) — will remain involved but only as nonvoting advisors.
  • Stakeholders who interact with the Board (tribes, local governments, historians, cartographers, and federal land managers) — may see procedural and deliberative effects because voting authority shifts to state entities.

Background and rationale

  • Federal agencies (NPS, BLM, USFS) communicated ethical concerns about their staff serving as voting members on a state board; AB 354 responds by preserving their input while removing their voting authority to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
  • The bill also aligns statutory agency names and modernizes representation (e.g., replacing Nevada Historical Society with the state Division of Museums and History).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 30, 2025.
  • Multiple committee actions and an amendment (Assembly Amendment No. 55 / first reprint) refined membership language and converted federal seats to advisory roles.
  • Chaptered as Chapter 145, Statutes of 2025; approved by the Governor July 14, 2025.
  • Effective July 1, 2025.
  • Fiscal note: bill summary notes "Effect on the State: Yes. Effect on Local Government: No."

Potential impacts

  • Governance: fewer voting members (9 vs. 12) may change veto/consensus dynamics and voting thresholds on name recommendations.
  • Federal/state interaction: federal technical input remains available but without binding votes, likely reducing potential federal‑state conflicts while preserving advisory expertise.
  • Administrative: state agencies will need to designate new representatives/alternates consistent with the amended statute; transitional provision minimizes disruption for incumbents.

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

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