The Territorial

Legislators Tossing Nevada Down a Mine Shaft

In the grand old tradition of selling one’s birthright for a mess of pottage, the 83rd Legislative Session of Nevada has turned into a veritable bazaar where independence, liberty, and common sense are being hawked off to the highest bidder—or worse, given away. Critics say the latest batch of bills rammed through by state Democrats is an outright assault on Nevada’s rugged spirit, handing power to illegal immigrants, bureaucrats, and coastal busybodies who wouldn’t know a sagebrush from a slot machine.

Among the most brazen of these legislative contraptions is AB140, which extends the renewal period for Driver Authorization Cards from four to eight years, making it as easy for an illegal immigrant to maintain a license as a lawful resident. Detractors call it a slap in the face to every honest Nevadan who followed the rules, arguing that rewarding lawbreaking with equal treatment is about as logical as inviting a pickpocket to manage the cash register.

Then there’s AJR6, a scheme to toss Nevada’s electoral influence onto the bonfire of the national popular vote. If this measure succeeds, say opponents, Nevadans might as well let California and New York handle the voting on their behalf since the Silver State’s voice would drown in the roar of coastal mobs. Worse yet, if it clears the Legislature, the governor can’t even veto it—meaning voters will be left to roll the dice in 2026.

Not content with meddling in elections, SB75 would grant the Secretary of State the power to raise business license fees without the pesky obstacle of a two-thirds majority vote, an innovation as fair-minded as letting a fox set the price of admission to the henhouse. As if that weren’t enough, it also does away with the English-only requirement for business filings, ensuring that Nevada’s official documents will be a linguistic free-for-all, much to the delight of lawyers and bureaucrats who thrive on confusion.

And for the grand finale, SJR7 aims to scrap Nevada’s current 24-week abortion restriction in favor of an open-ended policy. Proponents call it a victory for reproductive freedom, but critics argue that in their zeal, lawmakers have forgotten that the term “freedom” isn’t a one-way street.

These bills paint a picture of a Nevada where the frontier spirit is getting shackled by the heavy hand of overreach. With the legislative session still in full swing, Nevadans who value their state’s independence might want to grab their torches and pitchforks—figuratively, before the last vestiges of self-governance go away for good.