No vote imminent on Oakland A’s stadium bill; legislature adjourns for weekend

The effort to spend up to $380 million in public money toward a new Las Vegas stadium for the Oakland A’s sputtered Thursday afternoon, as members of both the Senate and Assembly adjourned until Monday without an initial committee vote on the bill — likely extending the special session convened by Gov. Joe Lombardo on Wednesday until at least the middle of next week.

Delays in voting come even as lawmakers were seen in and around the Legislature on Thursday, including appearing at bill signings at the governor’s office shortly before the Assembly adjournment.

At least one legislator in support of the proposal, Sen. Heidi Seevers Gansert (R-Reno), had left Carson City, though she would still be allowed to vote remotely, according to Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas).

The delay follows the initial hearing of the A’s stadium bill Wednesday night, in which several Democratic senators — who hold a 13-8 majority in the Senate — requested changes and expressed frustration over the lack of changes to SB1, an exact copy of the failed SB509 from the regular legislative session.

“To say I'm extremely disappointed that no work has been done on this bill over the past 10 days is an understatement,” Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D-Las Vegas) said Wednesday, referencing an initial hearing of SB509 last week.

Democratic senators told presenters during the hearing that they expected to see amendments to the stadium bill addressing issues raised during the regular session. However, sources granted anonymity because discussions about the bill are ongoing said Thursday that senators were seeing amendments for the first time that day and still evaluating the proposal.

On Wednesday, Sen. Fabian Doñate (D-Las Vegas) said he wanted to see a change ensuring the Live Entertainment Tax would apply to A’s home games. In state law, professional sports teams such as the Vegas Golden Knights playing at home in Nevada are exempt from the 9 percent tax on admissions charges to large live entertainment facilities.

Sen. Edgar Flores (D-Las Vegas) meanwhile requested stricter requirements in state law related to the community benefits agreement — a contract that would require the A’s to make certain contributions to the community. That included a request that the team makes the same contributions it made to a food bank in California to similar efforts in Nevada.

“It shows that good faith relationship, and it doesn't tie your hands to the evolving needs of the community because unfortunately food insecurity is something we're going to have,” he said.

This story was published June 8 by The Nevada Independent and is republished here with permission.

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Joseph Lombardo - $1,800

Rochelle Nguyen - $1,030

Heidi Gansert - $250