S.B. 90
- *SB90*
SENATE BILL NO. 90–COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
PREFILED JANUARY 30, 2023
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Referred to Committee on Government Affairs
SUMMARY—Designates the wild mustang as the official state
horse of the State of Nevada. (BDR 19-560)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to state emblems; designating the wild mustang as
the official state horse of the State of Nevada; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law designates numerous state emblems, including, without limitation, 1
a state bird, state insect, state reptile, state animal, state fish and others. (NRS 2
235.020-235.140) This bill designates the wild mustang as the official state horse of 3
the State of Nevada. 4
WHEREAS, Wild mustangs are living symbols of the historic and 1
pioneer spirit of the American West; and 2
WHEREAS, Nevada is home to more than one-half of the wild 3
mustang population in the United States of America; and 4
WHEREAS, The wild mustang is a symbol associated with 5
Nevada and has contributed to the history and culture of the State of 6
Nevada; and 7
WHEREAS, The wild mustang is emblazoned on the Nevada 8
commemorative quarter-dollar coin for the United States of 9
America; and 10
WHEREAS, The Virginia Range of Nevada serves as one of the 11
largest humane management programs for wild mustangs; and 12
WHEREAS, The wild mustang of the Virginia Range inspired the 13
work of “Wild Horse Annie” (Velma Johnston), who advocated for 14
the protection and humane management of wild horses across the 15
West and assisted in the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses 16
and Burros Act of 1971; and 17
– 2 –
- *SB90*
WHEREAS, The wild mustang is a natural resource of the State 1
of Nevada and has the potential to promote tourism and job creation 2
in the State; now, therefore, 3
4
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN 5
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 6
7
Section 1. Chapter 235 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 8
thereto a new section to read as follows: 9
1. The animal known as the wild mustang is hereby 10
designated as the official state horse of the State of Nevada. 11
2. As used in this section, “wild mustang” means: 12
(a) A free-roaming horse that meets the definition of a “wild 13
free-roaming horse or burro,” as set forth in the Wild Free-14
Roaming Horses and Burros Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1331 et seq.; or 15
(b) A free-roaming horse in the Virginia Range area of the 16
State that has no brand or other mark to indicate ownership of the 17
horse. 18
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2023. 19
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