SJR 13 PASSES #NVLeg for This Session

Today is another huge day at the Nevada Legislature. Several key bills are about to receive a final verdict as the Assembly takes up several bills for final passage. One is SJR 13, the resolution calling to amend the Nevada Constitution to enact civil marriage equality.

The bill received just a few minutes of debate. Assembly Member Elliot Anderson (D-Paradise) began by explaining how many policies are addressed in the Nevada Constitution... And slaying the excuse given by Senator Michael Roberson (R-Henderson) in opposing it.

Wow @ElliotAndersonv is nailing counterarguments on #SJR13. Talks constitutional law, notes sponsors represent 1 million Nevadans #nvleg

And that's not all.

.@ElliotAndersonv speaking on #gaymarriage ban repeal "The will of the voters is changing as it has with me." #nvleg #SJR13

@ElliotAndersonv "This isn't about rights, this is about love." #SJR13 #NVLeg

Assembly Member Michele Fiore (R-Las Vegas) also had something to say on SJR 13 on the Assembly floor today.

.@AaronDFordNV @Jones4Nevada watching Assembly debate on #samesexmarriage ban repeal. @VoteFiore "Mom this vote is for you." #SJR13 #nvleg

We also heard some incredibly personal and heartbreaking stories on the Assembly floor today. Assembly Member Andrew Martin spoke of his own experience with marriage discrimination.

Asm. @andrewmartin, been w/partner for 27 years, but doesn't have same rights as everyone else. #SJR13 Everyone should have same rights.

So did Assembly Member James Healey (D-Enterprise).

Oh, sob. Asm. @james4assembly showing picture of deceased partner and talking about their dreams of marriage and family. #SJR13

The final vote was 27-14. All Democrats (save Peggy Pierce [D-Las Vegas], who had an excused absence) voted in favor, along with Republican Michele Fiore. All other Republicans voted against. SJR 13 has now passed this session, and it will be returning to Carson City for Round 2 in 2015. And Nevada has moved another step closer to marriage equality.

AB 230 Passes Assembly

Over the course of this month, sex education has blown up into a major issue in Carson City. AB 230 was introduced. Then, Assembly Member Lucy Flores (D-North Las Vegas) shared her compelling personal story in explaining why Nevada students need comprehensive sex education.

Today, Assembly Member Lucy Flores again gave powerful personal testimony, this time on the Assembly floor.

@LucyFlores in support of #AB230 :"In a perfect world, we wouldn't need this bill. But we don't live in a perfect world." #sexed #nvleg

"If we don't arm students with information, they make decisions based on wrong information." @LucyFlores #AB230 #sexed #nvleg #FierceFlores

She followed the bill's original sponsor, David Bobzien (D-Reno), who reminded his colleagues of what's at stake.

"Giving students the information they need can and will save lives." - @BobzienNevada #AB230 #sexed #nvleg

A few of their Republican colleagues predictably rose in opposition. And they seemed completely oblivious to what's actually in AB 230.

But in the end, it didn't matter. AB 230 just passed 26-15. All Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while all Republicans voted against. And just before the vote, my own Assembly Member (Andy Eisen [D-Paradise]) said this.

Asm. @andy_eisen "I represent a special interest group...and that is the youth of Nevada " stands up for #SexEd #AB230 #NVleg

In the end, they're the ones who matter. And they're the ones who stand to benefit from AB 230. So now, the Assembly approved consistent statewide standards for life-saving sex education. The bill now moves onto the Senate.