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Lawmakers approve hotel room tax hike to help fund $1.9 billion stadium

Posted at 9:04 AM, Oct 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-15 02:27:14-04

2:12 p.m. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval released the following statement after lawmakers approved the stadium proposal.

“I would like to thank the members of the Nevada State Senate and Assembly for asking the tough questions and for their thoughtful deliberations. This week, legislators representing north and south, urban and rural, came together to prove we are one Nevada. It is truly exciting to see our gaming industry, labor unions, and small businesses come together with broad support for these important projects,” said Governor Brian Sandoval.  “Nevada has a past unlike any other state, but it is the ability to write a new narrative and redefine our state’s image that makes us so unique and so capable of innovating once again through the new Nevada. This is the beginning of the next chapter of southern Nevada’s continued dominance in tourism, conventions and hospitality and presents an exciting opportunity for UNLV. I’m proud of the work that has been done to create these possibilities for Nevada’s future and the next phase of our state’s evolution. This is what the new Nevada is all about.”

1:38 p.m. Raiders owner Mark Davis released the following statement following approval of the stadium deal.

"I would like to thank Governor Sandoval, the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee, and the members of the Nevada Legislature on this historic day, " said Raiders owner Mark Davis. "All parties have worked extremely hard to develop and approve this tremendous stadium project that will serve as a proud new home for the entire Raider Nation."

1:02 p.m. The Nevada Senate concurred with changes made to the stadium bill in the state Assembly, meaning the bill now goes to Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval for final approval.

Las Vegas Sands lobbyist Andy Abboud said Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Raiders owner Mark Davis will hold a signing ceremony for the bill on Monday in Las Vegas.

UPDATE: The Assembly approved the bill with amendments for Las Vegas' proposed stadium. The senate must now vote again. 

*Keep up with us in real-time. Twitter feed at end of blog.

11:15 a.m. Assembly members have gaveled back in, about two hours later than expected.

Democratic Assemblywoman Stephanie Smith, who was recently appointed to her seat, is absent today. She was expected to vote against the stadium deal, which requires a two-thirds vote of the lawmakers.

9:00 a.m. Assembly members are facing a delayed start time Friday, with road closures and Northern Nevada wildfires delaying traffic into Carson City.

Assembly Majority Leader Paul Anderson tweeted Friday that the planned 9 a.m. start time would be delayed because of the road closures. Members of the state Assembly met until about 1:00 a.m. Friday, finally breaking after not taking a vote on the proposed stadium.

Lawmakers also need to consider a proposed amendment to the stadium bill, which was released late night. The proposal adds additional protections for small businesses that would subcontract stadium construction work and changes the makeup of the stadium authority board.

A full copy of the amendment is here.

A Twitter List by KTNV