Assemblymember Steve Yeager told the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on May 31 that Assembly Bill 598 would exempt the Campus for Hope project and an associated set of children’s cottages from state public‑works procurement oversight so Clark County and the city of Las Vegas can manage permitting and construction oversight to expedite the development.

Yeager, the bill’s sponsor, said the Campus for Hope is a $200 million public‑private partnership created by 2023 legislation to address homelessness in Southern Nevada and described the project’s goal of providing temporary housing and wraparound services. "These kids deserve better," Yeager said of foster children currently housed on aging campus cottages, and he asked the committee to move the bill quickly so new cottages can be built.

Jeremy Aguero, who walked the committee through the reprint, said section 1 exempts the project in its entirety from public‑works requirements while clarifying the project will still be state‑owned and operate under a lease with State Lands; subsection 2 makes clear the project will remain a prevailing‑wage project. Aguero asked the committee to remove subsection 3, which he described as an unnecessary carve‑out that could create delay.

A range of business and labor groups testified in support. Thomas Morley (labor unions) said the bill’s prevailing‑wage language was a key reason for labor support. Representatives of Wynn, MGM, Caesars, the Nevada Resort Association and building trades described the Campus for Hope as a public‑private project that depends on private commitments and urged the committee to approve measures that reduce duplication of permitting and expedite construction.

Committee members questioned how oversight would work. Jeremy Aguero confirmed the state would retain ownership and that the Campus would operate under a long‑term lease with State Lands; public‑works oversight would be replaced by city oversight for the permitting and building activity to avoid duplicative processes. Senator Scheibel and Vice Chair Daley pressed for clarity on which entity would remain the building official; Aguero said lease terms with State Lands would address building‑official responsibilities and that the sponsor expects a long‑term lease to limit recurring disputes.

With final days of the session looming, the committee worked quickly. The vice chair moved to amend and do pass AB598 removing subsection 3 of section 1; the committee voice‑voted the motion in favor and the motion carried.

Why it matters: Supporters said the exemption and the removal of subsection 3 will accelerate construction of specialized cottages and the larger Campus for Hope so services for unhoused people and foster youth can come online faster. Opponents did not appear in the hearing record; several stakeholder groups recommended expedited action accompanied by prevailing‑wage protections.

What’s next: The committee asked for the amendment “sooner than later” to finalize the bill for floor action.