AB 242 — Revises provisions relating to the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council. (BDR 18-214)

EXEMPT (Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 16, 2025) FIRST REPRINT A.B.

242 A SSEMBLY BILLB NILLN O.

requiring the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council in the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to establish by regulation a program to mitigate damage to sagebrush ecosystems;

requiring the Council to setadopt forthcertain inregulations regulationrelated anyto method or formula used by the habitat quantification tool developed by the Council as part of the program;

Existing law creates the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council within the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Existing law requires the Council to establish a program to mitigate damage to sagebrush ecosystems by creatingor arestore sagebrush ecosystems.

(NRS 232.162) This bill requires the Council totonhance establish theorethe program by regulation.

In establishing the program, this bill further requires the Council to:to set forth in regulation:

(1) developthe aprocess habitatto quantificationapply tool;to participate in the program;

and (2) setthe forthprocess infor regulationthe anyreview methodof oran formulaapplication used by the habitatCouncil; quantification tool for calculating debits and credits.

THE(3) PEOPLEthe OFprocess THEby STATEwhich OFan NEVADA,applicant REPRESENTEDmay INappeal SENATEany ANDdecision ASSEMBLY,of DOthe ENACTCouncil ASrelating FOLLOWS:review any activity or project that has been approved by the Council to create credits or acquire debits pursuant to the program.

- *AB242_R1* – 2 – THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

- *AB242* – 2 – (a) The following nine voting members appointed by the Governor:

(6) The Forest Supervisor for the Humboldt-Toiyabe NationalNation(7) Forest;Any other members appointed by the Governor as nonvoting members.

and (7) Any other members appointed by the Governor as nonvoting members.

- *AB242_R1* – 3 – 5.

- *AB242* – 3 – (b) Establish subcommittees consisting of members of the Council to assist the Council in the performance of its duties;

(h) Coordinate and facilitate discussion among persons, federal and state agencies and local governments concerning the - *AB242_R1* – 4 – maintenance of sagebrush ecosystems and the conservation of the greater sage grouse;

and - *AB242* – 4 – (j) Provide direction to state agencies concerning any strategy, system, program or project carried out pursuant to this section or NRS 321.592 or 321.594 and resolve any conflict with any direction given by another state board, commission or department jointly with that board, commission or department, as applicable.

In establishing a program to mitigate damage to sagebrush ecosystems pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection 7, the Council shall:shall set forth in regulation:

(a) DevelopThe process for a habitatperson, quantificationfederal tool;or state agency, local government or nonprofit organization to apply to participate in the program by:

and(1) (b)Proposing Setan forthactivity in regulation any method or formulaproject usedthat bywill thecreate habitatcredits quantificationto toolprotect, forenhance calculatingor debitsrestore andsagebrush credits.ecosystems;

Councilor shall(2) submitAcquiring adebits writtento reportcompensate tofor the Governor.loss or degradation of habitat of the greater sage-grouse caused by a proposed activity or project;

(b) The process for the review of an application described in paragraph (a) by the Council;

(c) The process by which a person, federal or state agency, local government or nonprofit organization that applies to participate in the program pursuant to paragraph (a) may appeal any decision of the Council relating to the application;

and (d) The process by which the Council will periodically review any activity or project that has been approved by the Council to create credits or acquire debits pursuant to the program.

9.

On or before June 30 and December 31 of each year, the Council shall submit a written report to the Governor.

and - *AB242_R1* – 5 – (c) Any other information specified by the Council.

HSec. - *AB242*

2.

1.

This section becomes effective upon passage and approval.

2.

Section 1 of this act becomes effective:

(a) Upon passage and approval for the purpose of adopting any tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act;

and (b) On July 31, 2027, for all other purposes.

H - *AB242_R1*