Latest news with #AB171
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nevada Legislature OKs bill targeting high egg prices, allowing suspension of cage-free requirement
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada lawmakers on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that could bring down the price of eggs, clearing the way for Gov. Joe Lombardo to give it his signature. Egg prices have soared as bird flu has decimated the number of egg-laying chickens, prompting fast action in Carson City to allow exceptions to a 'cage-free' law that passed just four years ago. Assembly Bill 171 (AB171) allows the state to temporarily suspend the ban on eggs that are from chickens raised in cages, and also allows the use of Grade B eggs. Eggs are at all-time high prices in the U.S., according to an Associated Press report on Wednesday. The average price for a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, nearly double what consumers were paying in August 2023. The price has been even higher in Nevada and other states with cage-free laws. It's not unusual to see prices twice that high in Las Vegas stores. Egg prices unite Nevada lawmakers as AB171 makes its way toward approval AB171 was declared an emergency measure and brought to a vote in the Nevada Senate, passing unanimously with one senator absent. The Senate transmitted the bill back to the Assembly, a procedural step before it goes to Lombardo. On Monday, Nevada Director of Agriculture J.J. Goicoechea said the change could increase the supply of eggs in as little as 30 days. AB171 would take effect immediately if Lombardo signs it. The bill would also allow small producers to sell eggs to retailers during shortages. The Department of Agriculture's quarantine officer could invoke a 120-day suspension of the cage-free requirement up to two times in a calendar year. A joint statement issued by the leaders of the Democratic majority in the Legislature said: 'The price of groceries and a nationwide shortage of eggs are hitting Nevadans' pocketbooks hard. While the new administration in Washington seems focused on everything but lowering costs for Nevada families, our goal at the Legislature is to provide some relief. This legislation underscores our commitment to make day-to-day life a little easier and more affordable for Nevada families.'— Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro The passage of AB171 went remarkably fast after Yeager said on Feb. 6 that the Legislature would act within the first two weeks of the session. Republicans and Democrats were in agreement from the start, with more jokes than arguments punctuating the bill's progress through committees and votes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Egg prices unite Nevada lawmakers as AB171 makes its way toward approval
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada lawmakers continued Tuesday to fast-track legislation that could bring down the price of eggs, pushing Assembly Bill 171 (AB171) closer to law. The bill would allow state officials to suspend Nevada's cage-free egg law, which was passed four years ago. The Nevada Department of Agriculture's quarantine officer would gain the power to allow the sale of eggs that come from hens raised in cages. Even the Humane Society is on board with the change, writing an amendment to the bill that expands ways the state can deal with the current problem — such as using grade B eggs when possible. Suspending the cage-free provision for 120 days could boost the available supply, which is expected to bring prices down. Agriculture Director J.J. Goicoechea said that prices could move in about a month if everything goes as expected. Las Vegas stores prepare for chick shipments during ongoing egg shortage, what to know if you're buying Nevada consumers are the focus as Democrats and Republicans work together in Carson City. Assemblymember Howard Watts (D-Clark County), who wrote the original cage-free bill in 2021, is sponsoring the new legislation. On Monday, the Assembly kicked into gear. After passing in the Assembly early Tuesday, AB171 was sent to the Senate. It was sent to committee and passed on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, it is expected to go to a vote of the full Senate. No one has voted against it yet. AB171 could find its way to Gov. Joe Lombardo's desk very soon. That was the plan from the very beginning when Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager — the bill's co-sponsor — said on Feb. 3 that lawmakers would pass relief for consumers within the first two weeks of the 83rd Legislative Session. A LOOK AT AB171: Nevada consumers could get a break on egg prices Lawmakers can barely contain the jokes as the bill advances at a scorching pace. 'Winner winner, chicken dinner,' Democratic Senator Michelee Cruz-Crawford said as the Committee on Natural Resources sent the bill to the full Senate. She chairs the committee. Yeager posted on X: 'EGGSPENSIVE PRICES? HOW WE'RE FIXING IT 🍳Egg prices have been cracking budgets for too long—but today, we took action! ✅ AB 171 will help Nevadans afford the basics. Big thanks to @HowardWattsNV for leading the charge!' The levity was inevitable as lawmakers made swift progress on a problem that's hitting household budgets hard in Nevada. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Egg price bill advances at Nevada Legislature; AB171 could increase supply in 30 days
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A bill aimed at reducing the skyrocketing price of eggs in Nevada advanced on Monday, but the legislative process will take some time even if there's no opposition. If it sails through, when is the soonest that Nevadans could see results? Nevada Department of Agriculture Director J.J. Goicoechea said it could mean that supplies increase in as little as a month. From there, prices should respond to supply and demand. For now, Assembly Bill 171 (AB171) has made its first step in lightning speed, unanimously passing a voice vote in a work session of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. It's now headed for the Assembly floor for a vote. The Assembly will not convene until late Tuesday morning. AB171 now has an amendment crafted by the Humane Society of the United States. The amendment gives the Department of Agriculture power to write additional regulations if the situation comes up again under different circumstances. What does AB171 do that could possibly change the price of eggs? It loosens a law made four years ago in the Nevada Legislature by Assemblymember Howard Watts (D-Clark County). It's no coincidence that Watts is a primary sponsor of AB171, looking to make an exception to the rules that he helped write in 2021. AB399 prohibited the production or sale of eggs in Nevada that weren't the product of cage-free chickens. The current egg supply problems are due to avian flu. 'Since 2022, roughly 20 million egg-laying chickens have died or been culled as a result of this disease outbreak. And that's created a really significant supply chain crunch and issue,' Watts told the Assembly committee. Nevada's first human case of avian flu confirmed in Churchill County A USDA report released on Jan. 16 said table egg-layers lost to High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) totaled 13.6 million birds in December alone. AB171 allows the Department of Agriculture's quarantine officer to suspend the cage-free law for 120 days under certain circumstances, and that could be done twice in a calendar year. That would open up sources for eggs that Nevada doesn't allow under current law. Goicoechea said Iowa, Indiana and Ohio are all states where Nevada gets eggs now, but it can't buy eggs that aren't cage-free. Under AB171, those states could sell more eggs to Nevada. The Humane Society amendment further allows Grade B eggs if necessary. It also would allow use of eggs from small operations in Nevada. The state currently has no commercial-scale egg operations, Goicoechea said. The amendment concerned some lawmakers who said the language was too open, and that was addressed before the work session concluded. Why 120 days? It's not a random choice, Goicoechea said: 'The absolute fastest that we can bring a pullet on to laying eggs would be 126 days. So, I could have went a lot longer and scientifically backed that up, but there are always pullets in the supply chain coming on. This isn't a hard stop, hard start, hard stop.' Support for AB171 came in testimony from the Sierra Club, Nevada Farm Bureau, Retail Association of Nevada, Vegas Chamber, Nevada Resort Association, Nevada Restaurant Association, Nevada Families for Freedom, Energy and Convenience Association of Nevada and the Independent American Party. Everyone appears to recognize the impact egg prices are having on consumers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nevada consumers could get a break on egg prices
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Just about everyone buys eggs, and higher prices haven't gone unnoticed in Carson City, where a law passed in 2021 is partly responsible for the eggflation. Now, the lawmaker who sponsored that law four years ago is behind a new bill that would give consumers a break. Democratic Assemblymember Howard Watts is sponsoring Assembly Bill 171 (AB171), which would temporarily suspend a requirement that eggs sold in Nevada be produced by cage-free chickens. If it passes, it would suspend that rule for as long as 120 days, or about three months. The State Quarantine Offer would have the authority to suspend the rule, and it could be done twice in a calendar year. Egg prices are soaring because bird flu outbreaks are forcing the slaughter of millions of egg-laying chickens. Nevada's cage-free law is just making the egg supply even lower right now. The situation has gotten so bad nationwide that Waffle House restaurants have begun charging a 50-cent surcharge on every egg ordered. Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager is a co-sponsor. He said on the opening day of the 2025 Legislative Session that action was coming. Both Watts and Yeager represent Assembly districts in the Las Vegas valley. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
