The Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, introduced in March 2025, comprehensively reshapes federal land management in southern Nevada through multiple coordinated actions. The bill transfers approximately 48,000 acres to two Paiute tribes as reservation land (without gaming rights), designates roughly 1.5 million acres as new wilderness areas, establishes nine special management areas totaling about 359,000 acres for conservation, and expands the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. To support local development and public services, the legislation conveys approximately 1,141 acres to cities and counties for public facilities, water infrastructure, and emergency services; creates a 350-acre job development zone in Clark County; and authorizes new off-highway vehicle recreation areas covering 117,576 acres. The bill also streamlines affordable housing approvals on public land (reducing federal review to 180 days), grants the Southern Nevada Water Authority pipeline rights-of-way, and preserves state wildlife management authority while funding erosion control and flood management projects on the Lower Las Vegas Wash.
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