Happy July, Nevada!

While many of us are thinking about barbecues, road trips, and staying cool, 24 new Nevada laws officially took effect on July 1!

Some of the changes include:
More opportunities to build backyard casitas (ADUs)
New school cellphone policies
Expanded behavioral health initiatives
Protections related to Nevada’s extreme heat
Consumer and homeowner protections
…and much more!

Most people don’t realize it, but laws passed during the legislative session don’t usually take effect right away. July 1 is when many of those ideas become reality.

This is a reminder that advocacy works. Every phone call, testimony, meeting with a legislator, email, and vote can help shape policies that affect our families and communities.

At LEAN, we’ll be breaking down these new laws over the coming weeks and exploring what they mean through the lens of faith and the common good.

Which new law are you most interested in learning more about?

One congregation can:

• Feed hungry neighbors.
• Advocate for affordable housing.
• Support local schools.
• Welcome immigrants and refugees.
• Care for God’s creation.
• Encourage civic participation.

Now imagine what hundreds of congregations can do together.

When people of faith join together, communities are transformed.

God is already at work. We are invited to LEAN in

As Lutherans and People of faith, we are called to care for creation while also caring for our neighbors. A recent study reminds us that conversations about renewable energy do not have to become a false binary. We do not have to be stuck in an either-or choice between agriculture and clean energy. Instead, they invite thoughtful stewardship that balances food production, healthy ecosystems, thriving rural communities, and the transition to cleaner sources of power. Good public policy seeks the common good by listening to local communities while making decisions grounded in facts rather than fear.

Key Takeaways:

• Solar development is using very little prime farmland.  A new analysis found that utility-scale solar occupies less than one-tenth of 1% of America’s prime farmland, challenging the perception that solar energy is a major driver of farmland loss. 

• The Mountain West has the lowest impact. Among all U.S. regions, the West uses the smallest share of prime farmland for utility-scale solar, an important finding for Nevada and neighboring states as renewable energy continues to expand. 

• Community concerns still matter. The report’s authors emphasize that these findings should not dismiss local concerns about individual solar projects. Responsible development should continue to consider impacts on rural communities, wildlife, public lands, agriculture, and local character. 

• Context is important. According to the analysis, golf courses occupy roughly 2.5 times more prime farmland nationwide than utility-scale solar, providing perspective on how different land uses compare. 

• Energy demand is growing. As electricity demand rises, including from data centers and economic growth, the West will need additional energy resources. Solar is expected to remain part of that conversation alongside conservation, transmission planning, and responsible land stewardship.

The primary election is behind us, and now Nevada turns its attention to the 2026 General Election on Tuesday, November 3.

Here’s a quick guide to what’s on the ballot this fall:

Statewide Offices

• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• Secretary of State
• State Treasurer

Legislative Races

Assembly Districts

Assembly Members are all up for election

Races LEAN is Following:

• Assembly District 2
• Assembly District 4
• Assembly District 5
• Assembly District 9
• Assembly District 12
• Assembly District 13
• Assembly District 21
• Assembly District 22
• Assembly District 25
• Assembly District 26
• Assembly District 35
• Assembly District 37
• Assembly District 40
• Assembly District 41
• Assembly District 42

Senate Districts

• Senate District 2
• Senate District 8
• Senate District 9
• Senate District 10
• Senate District 12
• Senate District 13
• Senate District 14
• Senate District 16
• Senate District 17
• Senate District 20
• Senate District 21

Federal Offices

• U.S. House of Representatives
  • Nevada’s 1st Congressional District
  • Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District
  • Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District
  • Nevada’s 4th Congressional District

What About the U.S. Senate?

There will not be a U.S. Senate election in Nevada this year.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who was re-elected in 2022, will next appear on the ballot in 2028. Sen. Jacky Rosen, who was re-elected in 2024, will next be up for election in 2030.

What Happens Next?

The candidates who won their party’s primary will now compete in the General Election on November 3. The winners will take office in January 2027.

Voting is one of the ways we care for our neighbors and help shape the future of our communities.

Looking for a voter guide? The Nevada Independent has a helpful election guide to learn more about the races and candidates.

Join us as we LEAN into 2026—encouraging informed, faithful, and engaged participation in our democracy.

Extreme heat is becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and placing greater strain on families, workers, older adults, children, and neighbors without reliable access to cooling.

Checking on one another during dangerous temperatures saves lives. But we also have a responsibility to build communities that are better prepared for the future.

• The decisions our elected leaders make affect:
• Affordable and reliable energy
• Safe, resilient, and affordable housing
• Public health and emergency preparedness
• Climate resilience and environmental stewardship
• Investments in neighborhoods most affected by extreme heat

As people of faith, we believe loving our neighbors means caring not only for one another today, but also for the communities we are leaving to future generations.

The future isn’t something that simply happens to us. It’s something we build together.

That’s why organizing, engaging our communities, and participating in our democracy are all acts of faithful neighbor love.

Join Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada as we work for climate justice and help shape the 2026 General Election. Together, we can build a Nevada where every community has the opportunity to thrive—even in a changing climate.