Nevada’s 2019 legislative session has officially ended, and HRC celebrates the progress made for marginalized communities in LGBTQ equality, health care, reproductive rights, access to the ballot box, measures to end gun violence and more. 

“This session marked the first female majority state legislature in U.S. history,” said HRC Nevada State Director Briana Escamilla. “They championed equality for all Nevadans by passing vital legislation that not only mark important accomplishments, but protect Nevadans from the Trump-Pence administration’s dangerous policies.”

The landmark bills that were passed include:

SB311 - Credit Non-Discrimination: Expands statewide non-discrimination protections in the application of credit, adding to existing protections for LGBTQ Nevadans’ in housing, employment, education, public spaces, foster care and jury selection. 

SB97 - LGBTQ Panic Defense Ban: Bans perpetrators of violent crimes from asserting a victim’s LGBTQ identity as a potential defense for their actions. 

All victims of violent crimes and their families deserve equal justice, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. @HRC_NV is grateful that @GovSisolak signed #SB97 into law.https://t.co/xMyCN0HiPn

— HRC in Nevada (@HRC_NV) May 21, 2019

SB284 - HIV Modernization Taskforce: Establishes a task force that will evaluate state law and make recommendations to help ensure Nevadans living with HIV or AIDS are treated equally. This is a stark contrast to the Trump-Pence administration, which constantly undermines prevention, treatment and awareness. 

SB204 - Suicide Prevention: Requires schools to adopt a policy for the prevention of suicide and provides training for teachers and students about suicide prevention, and to specfically address LGBTQ youth among others.

SB364 - Health Care Facilities Non-Discrimination: Prohibits discriminatory practices by medical providers and facilities. This combats Trump-Pence administration regulations that empower health care providers to cite their personal beliefs in refusing to provide life-saving care for LGBTQ patients.

SB179 - Trust Nevada Women Act: Decriminalizes abortion, and modernizes informed consent. This highlights the critical need for pro-equality leaders in local government as states like Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Ohio relentlessly attack Americans’ reproductive rights.

With the onslaught of attacks on Americans’ reproductive rights, Nevada passes #SB197, decriminalizing abortion.
���������� ������������������ ������������ & @HRC_NV thanks @NaralNv & the #NVLeg for fighting to #StopTheBans. #TrustNevadaWomenhttps://t.co/9kF1BNy9xS

— HRC in Nevada (@HRC_NV) May 22, 2019

AB345 - Voting Rights: Establishes same-day voter registration, universal polling locations, extends early voting hours, and allows voters to permanently request an absentee ballot instead of applying for one each election cycle. The bill also implements automatic voter registration, an initiative that Nevadan voters approved on the 2018 ballot.

These milestones for equality were made possible by the Nevada voters who turned out to elect pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot, including Gov. Steve Sisolak and openly LGBTQ members, Senators David Parks, Pat Spearman, Dallas Harris, Melanie Scheible and Assembly Woman Sarah Peters who have been trailblazers in the Silver State. 

Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford have fought tirelessly for the Equality Act, which passed the House in May. This critical bipartisan legislation will finally provide clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across the country in employment, housing, public spaces, education, jury services, credit and federal funding.

We’re thankful for our local partners Transgender Allies Group, ACLU, Silver State Equality, Battle Born Progress, PLAN, Let Nevadans Vote Coalition, NARAL and Planned Parenthood who led the work on these pro-equality bills, and we are proud to join them as we continue the fight for full equality.