Sandoval calls two-day special session for Faraday Future incentives
CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval late Tuesday issued a proclamation calling the Nevada Legislature into session beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday to consider a package of tax incentives to bring the startup electric car manufacturer Faraday Future to Southern Nevada.
Sandoval asked lawmakers to convene to consider a session to review a package of tax abatements and credits to bring Faraday Future to the Apex industrial site in North Las Vegas.
The session is expected to last two days.
In the proclamation, Sandoval said Nevada continues to emerge from the worst economic crisis the state has seen and that the economy requires "growing and attracting businesses that bring innovative and new technologies. . ."
During the special session, Sandoval is asking lawmakers to provide incentives in the form of tax abatements and transferable tax credits for businesses that invest a minimum of $1 billion in capital in the state. He wants lawmakers to consider the proposed $1 billion Faraday plant and its $217 million in incentives over 15 years, and has made it clear that he will not consider other issues at the special session.
Rick Combs, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said Monday that legal staff had already begun the bill drafting process. He wasn't sure how many bills will be presented to lawmakers, however.
Combs said lobbyists will be required to register for the session, and that he was working on getting information posted to the Legislature's website.
It will be the 29th special session of the Nevada Legislature in its 151-year history.
As in previous special sessions, lawmakers will consider the measures in the Senate and Assembly first as committees of the whole. They will hear testimony and ask questions before floor votes are taken.
The Tesla special session, which involved $1.3 billion in tax incentives to bring Tesla Motors' $5 billion battery factory to an industrial park east of Reno, lasted two days.
The proclamation can be read in its entirety here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/29th2015Special/Docs/Proclamation.pdf
Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801
