The bill was never introduced, but Sisolak's Blockchains concept is still alive
Although Gov. Steve Sisolak backed away from introducing legislation on “innovation zones”—which would have allowed tech companies, specifically Blockchains, LLC, to govern private land—he got lawmakers to keep the concept alive.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, which passed late last Friday, establishes a joint special committee which will study innovation zones and report to the Governor on whether to proceed with legislation.
Sisolak originally introduced the idea of innovation zones in his January State of the State address. A draft of the legislation that leaked in February included provisions that would give tech companies, including Blockchains, LLC, the same power to govern as local counties, with the goal of attracting innovative companies to the state. In April, Sisolak retreated from his plan to propose the legislation, which garnered national headlines and was the target of jokes on late night TV. The Legislature did not have enough time to consider such a complex issue, Sisolak said. But rather than let the concept die, he worked with legislative leaders to create an interim committee.
On May 11, the Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections introduced the resolution to study innovation zones. The resolution establishes a committee of six members, including three members of the Assembly (two appointed by the Speaker and one by the Minority Leader) and three members of the Senate (two appointed by the Majority Leader and one by the Minority Leader).