Gov. Brian Sandoval signs election bill, many others

Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed legislation requiring anyone who signs a petition to recall a public official must have voted in the election that put the official in that post.

Supporters of the legislation say that matches a recent Nevada Supreme Court ruling on the subject of recall petitions. That ruling states while all registered voters vote in a recall election, “only voters who voted at the relevant baseline election can qualify a recall petition” by signing it.

Assembly Bill 23 also requires any recall committee follow financial and other reporting requirements whether or not the group actually gets enough signatures to force an election.

In addition, the legislation moves the election dates for several Nevada cities from June in odd numbered years to the same day as the statewide and legislative elections are held in even numbered years.

The cities affected by the change are Boulder City, Caliente, Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Yerington.

In addition, Sandoval signed SB 305 legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp for research purposes.

The measure changes Nevada’s historical ban on growing any plants in the genus cannabis — the same genus as marijuana.

Universities would be allowed to grow hemp for research purposes.

Sandoval also signed SB 229, which allows for specialty license plates touting the 2nd Amendment. The measure, sponsored by Republican Sen. Don Gustavson, authorizes a plate design featuring a frontiersman with a gun and the words “Battle Born” and “Protect the Second Amendment.” Proceeds from sales of the plate would benefit the Nevada Firearms Commission, but they must be used for gun training or gun-safety education and not for political purposes. The plates can be produced when one of the 30 design slots for specialty plates becomes available.

AB198 signed by Sandoval calls for a study of alternative sources of water that drought-stricken Nevada could potentially use. The measure charges the Legislative Committee on Public Lands to study groundwater supplies, quantify how much water per capita is used in Nevada, and explore outside-the-box water supply options such as cloud seeding and capturing rainwater. The report is due by Feb. 1, 2017, in time for the next regular legislative session.

Sandoval also signed AB12, which will permanently extend a program offering drug and alcohol addiction counseling for some parole violators. Lawmakers voted in 2011 to establish a so-called diversion program offering drug and alcohol counseling to certain parole violators instead of sending them back to jail. The bill removes a 2015 expiration date on the program and makes it permanent. Supporters say the program cuts down on prison crowding and helps keep parole violators from repeatedly returning to prison.

Finally, he signed SB225, which applies existing restrictions on the sale of tobacco products to e-cigarettes and vapor products. The primary restriction is vaping oils and devices cannot be sold to anyone under age 18.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.