To provide for conservation and economic development in the State of Nevada, and for other purposes.
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act reorganizes federal land ownership in Clark County, Nevada to balance tribal interests, conservation, and regional growth. It transfers tens of thousands of acres of federal land to Native American tribes, local governments, and conservation areas while establishing new wilderness protections and recreational zones to manage development in one of America's fastest-growing regions.
Who Benefits and How
Native American Tribes gain the most directly: the Moapa Band of Paiutes receives approximately 45,000 acres taken into federal trust, and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe receives about 3,156 acres. This land cannot be taxed and expands tribal sovereignty and economic opportunities.
Clark County and Nevada municipalities (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Mesquite) receive federal land for public safety facilities, affordable housing, flood control infrastructure, and economic development at no cost or below market value.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority receives a right-of-way corridor for a critical water pipeline, supporting the region's water infrastructure needs.
Real estate developers benefit from affordable housing prioritization provisions and a designated Job Creation Zone that facilitates development on conveyed lands.
Off-highway vehicle enthusiasts gain two new designated recreation areas: the Laughlin Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area and Nellis Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal taxpayers effectively subsidize the land transfers, as federal lands are conveyed at no cost or well below fair market value. The federal government also loses future revenue from lands now held in tribal trust (which are tax-exempt).
Mining and mineral interests lose access to resources in newly designated wilderness and special management areas, which are withdrawn from mineral entry and mining claims.
The Bureau of Land Management takes on substantial new administrative responsibilities including land surveys, management plans for special areas, and coordination with tribes and local governments.
Key Provisions
- Transfers approximately 45,000 acres to the Moapa Band of Paiutes and 3,156 acres to the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe to be held in federal trust
- Designates new wilderness areas with restrictions on roads, motorized vehicles, and resource extraction
- Establishes Special Management Areas for the Muddy Mountains and Spirit Mountain with enhanced conservation protections
- Conveys land to Clark County and Nevada cities for public safety facilities, flood control, affordable housing, and a Job Creation Zone
- Grants the Southern Nevada Water Authority a right-of-way for a water pipeline corridor
- Creates two off-highway vehicle recreation areas for motorized recreational use
- Establishes watershed protections for the Virgin River area
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Comprehensive land management legislation for Southern Nevada that transfers federal land to Native American tribes, establishes conservation and special management areas, designates wilderness areas, conveys land to local governments for economic development and public safety, and creates off-highway vehicle recreation areas.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Balance conservation with economic development in fast-growing Southern Nevada through land transfers to tribes, new wilderness and special management areas, conveyances to local governments for development and public safety, and recreational area designations."
Likely Beneficiaries
- Moapa Band of Paiutes (receives ~45,000 acres in trust)
- Las Vegas Paiute Tribe (receives ~3,156 acres in trust)
- Clark County and Nevada municipalities (receive land for development, public safety, housing)
- Southern Nevada Water Authority (receives pipeline right-of-way)
- Real estate developers (affordable housing prioritization, Job Creation Zone)
- Off-highway vehicle recreation users
- Conservation and environmental groups (new wilderness and special management areas)
Likely Burden Bearers
- Bureau of Land Management (administrative workload for surveys, management plans)
- Federal government/taxpayers (land transferred at no cost or below market value)
- Mining and mineral interests (land withdrawn from mineral entry in special management areas)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_tribe"
- → Moapa Band of Paiutes (sec 101-102) or Las Vegas Paiute Tribe (sec 103)
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "the_county"
- → Clark County, Nevada
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "the_secretary_concerned"
- → Secretary of Interior (BLM lands) or Secretary of Agriculture (National Forest System land)
- "the_city"
- → City of Henderson, Nevada
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Clark County, Nevada
An incidental take permit issued under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to Nevada DOT, Clark County, or Nevada cities (Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, Mesquite)
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Interior for BLM land; Secretary of Agriculture for National Forest System land
State of Nevada
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology