Veterans Set Their Agenda for the 2023 Legislature in Symposia

(Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada) — Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Nevada Veterans Legislative Symposia. The events were held in Las Vegas and Reno in March. The ideas presented will help set the agenda for the veterans’ community in the upcoming 82^nd Session of the Legislature.

If you have never attended or participated in the symposia, the two events ensure veterans voices are heard. Veterans and advocates are asked to bring their legislative ideas forward. Each issue is written on a large, white, easel pad. Participants are then asked to vote, using a series of dots, on the issues they feel are most important. The issue with the most dots (or votes), receives a higher priority ranking. What emerges through this process is a list of issues, ranked in priority. The list is brought before state lawmakers for consideration. Federal issues are presented to Nevada’s Congressional Delegation.

The first symposium was held in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 19, 2022. A week later, the second symposium was held in Reno on March 26^th. The symposia are held in partnership between NDVS and the United Veterans Legislative Council (UVLC).

At both events, Governor Sisolak’s Policy Director DuAne Young provided an overview of the Governor’s priorities. Members of the Legislative Counsel Bureau provided an overview of the legislative process explaining how a bill draft becomes law. UVLC Chairman Andy LePeilbet and Secretary Tony Yarbrough discussed how veterans advocating for bills can bring results. Yarbrough noted, “Our lawmakers are very interested in what you have to say,” adding, “You are the ones who make the difference.”

Several Nevada lawmakers attended the event and addressed the crowd. In Las Vegas State Senators Pat Spearman and Joe Hardy as well as Assemblymember Brittney Miller provided their advice on the best ways for veterans to get involved in the legislative process. Congressman Steven Horsford was among the Congressional delegation to attend, as were representatives with the Congressional offices representing Congressional members Dina Titus and Susie Lee, as well as representatives from Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen’s offices.

In Reno, State Assemblymembers Sarah Peters, Jim Wheeler, and P.K. O’Neill provided their advice on ways to get involved. Representatives from Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen’s offices, along with the representative with Congressman Mark Amodei’s office attended.

Be sure to look for the top issues that emerged from the 2022 symposia in our June newsletter!

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