Legislative briefs for March 22, 2005

Tuesday, March 22, 2005 | 9:33 a.m.

Bill proposes land auctions

Freshman Assemblyman Scott Sibley, R-Las Vegas, Monday introduced a bill to require the sale or trade of most public lands be done through by public auction.

Assembly Bill 312 would stop swaps of airport land, such as the controversial property deals involving McCarran International Airport. Investigations are under way into those transactions.

The bill would require airport land to be auctioned in most cases. Exceptions could me made on deals for land for industrial development, for land to be used for public benefit or by nonprofit organizations for the development of affordable housing.

Existing law allows a county, city or town to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of an airport, air navigation facility or other related property. And the existing law permits leases and other arrangements not to exceed 50 years. This bill would prohibit those.

AB312 had 26 co-sponsors in the Assembly and 11 members of the Senate. It was referred to the Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure.

Bill would allow wine school sales

A bill allowing wine schools and their sales of wine by the glass was introduced in the Senate Monday.

Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, said Senate Bill 233 would allow the schools to import the grapes and to supply the equipment. But the person who enrolls in the school would be developing the wine.

An individual could produce a barrel of wine that makes anywhere from 260 to 300 bottles, which could be used for celebrations such as weddings or parties but not be sold commercially, Schneider said.

The bill would also allow grocery stores to conduct wine tasting, but would prohibit convenience stores from providing wine tasting. He said it would allow stores, such as Trader Joes, which sell wine by the case to let a customer sample the product before buying.

The bill goes to the Senate Taxation Committee.