A.B. 144
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ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 144–ASSEMBLYMEMBER BACKUS
PREFILED JANUARY 29, 2025
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Referred to Committee on Government Affairs
SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to “Indigenous Peoples
Day” in Nevada. (BDR 19-7)
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 days of observance; establishing the second
Monday in October of each year as “Indigenous Peoples
Day” in the State of Nevada; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law authorizes the Governor to annually proclaim August 9 as 1
“Indigenous Peoples Day” in the State of Nevada. (NRS 236.037) This bill instead 2
establishes the second Monday in October as “Indigenous Peoples Day” and 3
authorizes the Governor to issue annually a proclamation encouraging the 4
observance of “Indigenous Peoples Day.” 5
WHEREAS, The State of Nevada recognizes and respects 1
Indigenous people as traditional stewards of the lands that would 2
later become known as the United States of America, and the 3
enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous people and 4
their traditional territories since time immemorial; and 5
WHEREAS, At present there are 574 federally recognized Tribes 6
and Alaska Native Villages, who are sovereign nations with a 7
government-to-government relationship promised under treaties 8
with the United States; and 9
WHEREAS, The State of Nevada is home to 28 federally 10
recognized Tribes, bands and communities who have inhabited and 11
protected these lands since time immemorial and whose deep 12
cultural connection has shaped the character of the State of Nevada; 13
and 14
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WHEREAS, The State of Nevada recognizes that over 60,000 1
members of these Tribes, from all over the United States have 2
chosen to make the State of Nevada home and these tribal members 3
contribute to the diversity of the population of this State; and 4
WHEREAS, The State of Nevada commits to policies and 5
practices that will promote the accurate representation of Indigenous 6
people in our cultural, educational and historical programs to ensure 7
children and the community at large can benefit from the ancestral 8
knowledge of Indigenous people; and 9
WHEREAS, The State of Nevada commits to policies and 10
practices that will protect the public lands and sacred sites of the 11
Indigenous people within the State of Nevada to ensure access and 12
opportunity to enjoy for future generations; and 13
WHEREAS, Acknowledgment is a simple yet powerful way of 14
showing respect and is a step toward correcting the stories and 15
practices that erase Indigenous people’s history and culture; and 16
WHEREAS, The State of Nevada recognizes the value of 17
educational integrity and search for truth in telling the story of our 18
foundation, and acknowledges past injustices to all Tribal nations, 19
and as a gesture of reconciliation, desires to recognize “Indigenous 20
Peoples Day”; now, therefore, 21
22
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN 23
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 24
25
Section 1. NRS 236.037 is hereby amended to read as follows: 26
236.037 1. The second Monday in October of each year is 27
established as “Indigenous Peoples Day” in the State of Nevada. 28
2. The Governor [is authorized and requested to] shall issue 29
annually [proclaim August 9 as “Indigenous Peoples Day” to 30
celebrate the thriving culture and significant value that indigenous 31
people add to the State of Nevada and the United States of 32
America.] a proclamation encouraging the observance of 33
“Indigenous Peoples Day.” The proclamation must, without 34
limitation: 35
(a) Call upon the news media, state and local officers, private 36
nonprofit groups and foundations, schools, businesses and other 37
public and private entities to bring to the attention of the residents 38
of the State of Nevada the importance of Indigenous communities 39
in the State of Nevada; 40
(b) Acknowledge the culture and history of and significant 41
contributions and advancements made by Indigenous communities 42
in the State of Nevada and around the world; and 43
(c) Promote active engagement by the residents of the State of 44
Nevada in volunteer stewardship activities that support the 45
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preservation of the distinctive public lands that hold great 1
importance for Indigenous communities in the State of Nevada 2
and beyond. 3
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval. 4
H