While State Senator Robin Titus was successful in getting several bills passed this legislative
session, she remains disappointed in those that didn’t make it out of committees and died.
A medical doctor by trade, she is passionate about public health and co-sponsored two bills that
would have established a social worker apprentice program and a nursing apprentice program.
She said the Nevada Department of Health & Human Services will continue the search for
funding for the nursing apprentice program, and some of the successfully passed bills will assist
with educating and recruiting social workers in the state.
Titus was also unsuccessful in establishing a task force to research Nevada’s reliance on
California energy, specifically fuel (SB505). She said currently 90% of the fuel in Nevada
comes from California. The U.S. Energy Information Administration shows there are 13
operating refineries in California, down from 40 refineries in 1983.
Titus said SB505 was “hugely popular” but it didn’t get a hearing. However, Governor Joe
Lombardo told her she didn’t need a successful bill to establish a blue-ribbon task force and
asked his staff to assist her in that effort. Titus is now setting up meetings with
representatives in Texas, Arizona and Utah to explore options for getting fuel to Nevada.
“How do we get away from being dependent on the California refineries,” she asked.
One of the successfully passed bills, SB108, adds more funds to the Account for the Channel
Clearance, Maintenance, Restoration, Surveying and Monumenting program. Titus said this
bill – which can affect Lahontan Reservoir and Carson River – is a longstanding bill with
$250,000 in the account to be used for grants to clear river channels from flooding. Her bill
will increase that account fund to $500,000. She said sometimes the grants were awarded
but lengthy project delays kept the funding tied up, sometimes for years like in the case of
the Cave Lake earthen dam that needed repairs. Having more funds available will lead to
more projects, and possibly the chance for applicants to pursue federal grants with
matching funds. Titus said sometimes the federal grants are a ten-to-one match, so securing
funds from the Nevada account could really help fund large projects.
Two bills that would have specifically benefitted small northern Nevada towns were shut
down. SB232 sought funding to construct a community center in Virginia City, and AB388
would have provided funds to build an elementary school in White Pine County.
Titus explained there is a north-south rivalry at the legislature, and the members who
control the money are the “Clark County folks” who often deny a work session in
committee. Approximately 68% of the Nevada legislators hail from Clark County.
Of the 605 bills that passed the legislature, Gov. Lombardo vetoed 87. He also vetoed 75
bills during the 2023 session, for a total of 162 vetoes during his first term alone. The
previous record was set by former Gov. Brian Sandoval who vetoed 97 bills during his two
terms over four legislative sessions.
Titus was voted as the Senate Minority Leader in January 2024 by the Senate Republican
Caucus after Heidi Gansert announced she wouldn’t run for a third term. Leadership
positions are typically voted on again after elections, and Titus was re-elected as minority
leader following the November 2024 election.
“They chose to keep me as the leader after the November election, and hopefully they
choose to keep me again because I’m running for reelection next year,” she said. “We’re
going to work hard, and I feel strongly that the Republicans can be in the majority next
election. To that end, that’s what I’m working for.”
When asked what she’s going to do in the off-season, she answered “Politics!” After a short
vacation, she plans to attend several leadership conferences and start recruiting Republican
candidates for the 2026 election. Titus still serves as the Lyon County Health Officer and
works with the Lyon County School District.
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