[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6664573,"mediaKeyId","2374695-1f78660bc8c70d314b6a6a86b799266c","parentId",2374695,"title","Bill to bar retaliation for using paid leave draws broad union support and industry concerns","audioSeconds",4667,"startMs",4382000,"endMs",9049000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2374695-1f78660bc8c70d314b6a6a86b799266c&start=4382&end=9049","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2374695-1f78660bc8c70d314b6a6a86b799266c/thumbnail_4382000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6664573/Nevada/Bill-to-bar-retaliation-for-using-paid-leave-draws-broad-union-support-and-industry-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664573-1936ec45ddb62f5495141f2b21e9efd6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113110&Signature=HQH0DU6Ikwp0Yo~92fHrdssg03q5FIvRT-VejKfkT04pD7ToFim2LmSJ1b0R8uQqKR4yB3pPtNPnglzw6~nFulh9ZTiAA8TF0-j9rcwVmdwf~BAWn3acfF1~f0djwK4EzSZkd~7G-7TDpJOZyS~1HKMFbwJteAfv1F3u3YHSmllKGQ3IoV~m12Hga9xkPdd4TEC6B7h6eXhiYyaEEJ2~5noBMUM7T0Gg0KYCw0bXS4AqB5JnMEB2tRoflbp~Nqkbd9og4P736A4786WIt7S89dwDmgWIGwLWnj2ECIAtw9n8BHux60S4wyr1TCSTrXexi7xqm~~oxlkeNbo75VH5NQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada State Legislature","date","2025-02-22T00:39:25.607Z","article","Assemblymember Selena LaRue Hatch opened a hearing on Assembly Bill 179, which she described as a targeted fix to ensure the 2019 paid time-off law functions as intended for workers covered by collective bargaining agreements and to close loopholes supporters say permit retaliatory discipline.

Supporters told the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor they have repeatedly seen workers disciplined after using accrued paid leave. Ross Kinston, president of the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council, said employers have exploited gaps in current law and that, in practice, some union employees are treated as if they have no enforceable right to use their accrued leave. “We have thousands and thousands and thousands of workers throughout this state who are literally left in a no man’s land,” he said.

The bill would add a nonexclusive list of actions that constitute prohibited retaliation — including dismissal, demotion, suspension, written reprimands or other adverse actions “for using paid leave available for use by the employee” — and would replace an existing exemption with language that preserves a current CBA’s protections while applying the law to extensions or renewals after Oct. 1, 2025.

Several workers recounted personal disciplinary actions after using sick leave. Amanda Whitten, a Teamsters member, said she received a discharge letter after calling in sick even though she had not used sick leave for months: “I now have to decide between taking care of my health and my daughter or keeping my job.” Multiple union and labor organizations — including Teamsters, CWA, Smart TD, Culinary, the Nevada State AFL-CIO and Moms Rising Together — urged the committee to pass AB 179.

Employer groups including the Las Vegas Chamber, Nevada Resort Association, National Electrical Contractors Association and trade contractors expressed opposition or requested additional language. Their concerns centered on distinctions between paid time off (PTO) and sick leave, preserving collective bargaining mechanics, and allowing employers to apply legitimate progressive discipline where necessary to protect operations and public safety.

Hospitals and health-care employers noted potential patient-safety implications if staffing flexibility is overly constrained. Patrick Kelly, CEO of the Nevada Hospital Association, said some patterns of last-minute absences can compromise patient care and may reasonably be addressed through progressive discipline.

Assemblymember LaRue Hatch said the bill is intended as a narrow fix that sets a statutory floor and does not strip current collective bargaining agreements of protections; she and sponsors indicated they would continue stakeholder negotiations. The committee took testimony and did not vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/21/2025 - Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor","oneSentenceSummary","Assembly Bill 179 would add a nonexclusive list of actions that constitute unlawful retaliation for using paid leave and close perceived loopholes that supporters say allow employers to discipline employees who use accrued paid leave; unions endorsed the bill and business groups urged further negotiation.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6664577,"Committee considers updating law to recognize satellite voice service for remote Nevada coverage",978,3417000,4395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2374695-1f78660bc8c70d314b6a6a86b799266c&start=3417&end=4395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2374695-1f78660bc8c70d314b6a6a86b799266c/thumbnail_3417000.jpg","/articles/6664577/Nevada/Committee-considers-updating-law-to-recognize-satellite-voice-service-for-remote-Nevada-coverage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664577-7a85a0f6e2d711aa45eb089e07528a5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113110&Signature=gd704QrtXRP8kGchm4l9DafxdsQy40Jlc2iFiTYbF6iiinyl2~yZhlS04~FsH3O8m0gsXQDJmE3a0ehLqZk1XwmbYNxgVi2V26LxprTEb7tTSoIJ8cauycLyLq5c9BejReut01gBK3MpoF~LH0doeXVb5qz0AEG2zHHcHH9TU1HCm0Tj6XS0hwfSTxf6PN0vhmlNzVGB3jNcYk77r6StJL6jA6Nek~WB7R5EhKGCkg13UsQmFBnBbx5wXe4utIlijjSe7TjVDolzPKjlGw4SuLqFn9hDn1kHJG~lsD4JsKyVgeZndsRCSU4xAL54Lb5Ae2aPjuwAFxKlCIO8WTPX6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember LaMarzola introduced Assembly Bill 174 to the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor, saying the bill would revise Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 704 (the provider/last-resort provisions) to recognize satellite technology as an alternative voice service.

Sponsor and industry representatives told the committee that satellite technology has evolved since the statute was last updated in 2013 and that recognizing satellite voice services would help eliminate “dead zones” in national parks, on rural highways and other remote locations.

Omar Salcedo, appearing for AT&T, told the committee that modern satellite systems are designed to operate much like wireless networks. “It is our plan that satellite technology will work exactly like wireless technology,” he said, adding that when providers achieve critical mass in orbit users should be able to make WhatsApp, FaceTime or traditional voice calls over satellite connections.

Supporters included Cox Communications, Verizon and other telecommunication providers, public-safety and first-responder groups, and disability advocates. Katherine Nielsen of the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities said improved satellite coverage would help people who are deaf or hard of hearing rely on video remote interpreting and other essential communication tools.

Dan Gordon, president of the Nevada Police Union, urged passage on public-safety grounds, saying, “That expectation shouldn’t be a gamble based on geography,” and recounting incidents in which officers temporarily lost communications in remote areas.

No organized opposition testified; several industry witnesses and law-enforcement associations argued the change modernizes statute without imposing new service mandates. The committee closed the hearing with no vote and the sponsor indicated the bill would move forward for further consideration.","Assembly Bill 174 would revise Nevada telecommunications statute to recognize satellite-based voice service as an alternative voice service; proponents argued the change would close coverage gaps for rural areas and improve emergency communications.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6664582,"Nevada committee hears bill to let more workers use sick leave to care for family",3282,157000,3439000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2374695-1f78660bc8c70d314b6a6a86b799266c&start=157&end=3439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2374695-1f78660bc8c70d314b6a6a86b799266c/thumbnail_157000.jpg","/articles/6664582/Nevada/Nevada-committee-hears-bill-to-let-more-workers-use-sick-leave-to-care-for-family","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664582-56616d04e5e777e8119d7d718fe63348/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113110&Signature=XNvQwaWhzQuh9VWLxdVMJCC5lCrm7XafU7SwQD9L6AAagQjqAJ-CnW~eC8HZL6ad51F-26ZZBCbaDh~5foaAIQAcU5Fy5S-slmpbAP1WPo0o-XkMCMxFfhgGJp2XhdIsZLOrYqg2k97TCT0FGfR4gRbiVSSJJNvv7lsGybasX32IE7HlYLFsigsBvV8Qi33Jlnz627HrUI7-I4UnpQ8v3nEzx6enL047JoVOBBv2UjX2U~WAMPH~Pv6GKQo97J2PLJ0c~PjD0mfPqxGPBCIBSucRz66MEncOuZC29fs3IqB61n4bEYBM4PcTa6YHWJmLY~5H~4RtWqtELSsbwRO9wQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember Yuwing Wing introduced Assembly Bill 112 on behalf of Assembly District 8, telling the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor that the measure would remove an exemption that keeps some workers covered by collective bargaining agreements from using accrued sick leave to care for family members.

The bill would change language first adopted in 2021 (AB 190) so that employers who provide sick leave must allow employees to use that leave to care for an immediate family member even if the employee is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, subject to an amendment the sponsor circulated that preserves existing agreements and other laws that offer “the same or more generous leave.”

Why it matters: supporters said the change would prevent workers from having to “lie” about the reason they miss work and would protect employees who now face discipline when they call out to care for children, parents or other relatives.

Workers, union leaders and family-advocacy groups filled both the in-person and virtual queues. Maria Theresa Hank, a shop steward for Transport Workers Union Local 556, testified she has worked 35 years as a flight attendant and said, “No one in Nevada should have to choose between their job security and their family’s well-being.” Mark Ellis, president of CWA Local 9413, told the committee, “We’re not asking for anything extra. We’re just asking that we don’t have to lie to our employers.”

Supporters supplied multiple personal examples of employees who said they were disciplined after using sick time to care for relatives. Speakers included representatives from the Communication Workers of America, Teamsters, Culinary, SEIU, National Nurses United, Moms Rising Together and Make It Work Nevada.

Several employer groups — including the Las Vegas Chamber, Nevada Resort Association and Retail Association of Nevada — said they were in active discussions with the sponsor and stakeholders and indicated the sponsor’s proposed amendment could resolve many concerns. Opponents expressed particular concern about preserving the mechanics of existing collective bargaining agreements and ensuring employers retain reasonable operational flexibility.

Sponsor Yuwing Wing said the amendment would make clear the bill “establishes a floor” and would not diminish benefits provided by a collective bargaining agreement, employer policy, contract or other law. The amendment also states the bill’s mandatory provisions would not apply during the current term of any collective bargaining agreement entered before Oct. 1, 2025, but would apply to extensions, renewals or agreements entered on or after that date.

There was no vote; the committee took testimony and the sponsor said she would continue stakeholder discussions before the bill returns to committee.","A bill to remove an exemption that prevents some employees covered by collective bargaining agreements from using accrued sick leave to care for family drew broad union and community support and industry requests for clarifying amendments.","actionData","errors"]

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Bill to bar retaliation for using paid leave draws broad union support and industry concerns

Committee considers updating law to recognize satellite voice service for remote Nevada coverage

Nevada committee hears bill to let more workers use sick leave to care for family