Fiercely debated measures die as Nevada legislative session ends

Carson City, Nev. (AP) — Nevada's 120-day legislative session has finally drawn to a close, and many of the hot-button issues debated during the session ended up dying at midnight on Monday.

Here are some of the bills that garnered headlines but ultimately didn't make it:

Abortion notification

Republicans tried several times to quietly do away with AB405, a hot potato of a bill requiring doctors to notify a girl's parents before performing an abortion. Assembly leadership tried to downgrade it to a study, but social conservatives rallied, pushing it through the Assembly and clamoring for a hearing in the Senate. In spite of an urgent social media campaign from opponents and passionate testimony from proponents, the measure failed to garner enough support in the Senate and was never brought up for a vote.

Transgender bathrooms

A measure that catapulted Nevada into the national debate over transgender rights never became law after failing to clear an Assembly vote. Lawmakers rejected AB375, the so-called "bathroom bill," in April when five Republicans broke rank and joined Democrats to defeat the measure 20-22. The measure, which drew sharp criticism from transgender advocates, would have required students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that corresponded to their biological sex.

LGBT conversion therapy

SB353, a proposal that would have banned therapies that aim to change the sexual orientation of minors, was held in limbo for weeks before eventually passing the Senate late in the session. But it was never brought up for a hearing in the Assembly, which is more socially conservative, and died there on Monday.

Presidential primary

A bill that would have initiated switching Nevada's presidential caucus to a primary election ultimately failed to win legislative approval. Assembly members continually delayed a vote on SB421 on Monday, which would have allowed national political party heads to request that Nevada's current caucus system for selecting a presidential candidate be changed to a primary election.

By Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder, Associated Press. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – June 3, 2015 @ 9:15am.