Nevada’s overall food-insecurity rate was 15.1%—approximately one in seven residents.
148,850 Nevada children experienced food insecurity.
The child food-insecurity rate was 21.6%—more than one in five children.
Nevada’s annual food-budget shortfall was approximately $316.4 million.
That represents a gap of approximately 91.2 million meals.
The average cost of a meal in Nevada was $3.47.
Approximately 38.1% of food-insecure Nevadans lived in households with incomes above Nevada’s SNAP eligibility threshold—meaning they may struggle to afford food while earning too much to qualify for assistance.
These are modeled estimates rather than direct counts. They also reflect conditions in 2024 and do not capture subsequent changes to SNAP or other nutrition programs.
As Nevada’s interim committees wrap up their work, their final meetings often include work sessions where legislators decide which proposals to advance as Bill Draft Requests, or BDRs. These recommendations grow out of months of testimony from community members, advocates, public agencies, and people with expertise in the issues.
Last week, several committees considered proposals that matter to the communities Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) serves.
The Joint Interim Standing Committee on Revenue approved a drafting request to repeal Nevada’s tax abatements for data centers and establish a statewide moratorium on the construction or expansion of these facilities. The proposal targets NRS 360.754, which authorizes partial tax abatements for qualifying new or expanded data centers. This brings questions about public resources, responsible development, and care for creation directly into the conversation for 2027. Read more about the proposal.
The Joint Interim Standing Committee on the Judiciary unanimously approved a drafting request to strengthen oversight of automated license plate readers, including Flock cameras. The proposal calls for written policies, training, independent audits, and annual reporting. For LEAN, protecting public safety also requires protecting privacy, civil rights, and public accountability. Read more about the proposed safeguards.
The Joint Interim Standing Committee on Government Affairs also considered changes to improve public participation at the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. Advocates called for meeting times accessible to working people, reliable phone and virtual participation, simpler written comments, and better language access. People whose household budgets are affected by utility decisions deserve a meaningful opportunity to be heard. This BDR was not acted on.
These are steps toward legislation. Approving a BDR authorizes a bill to be drafted; the proposal still must move through the legislative process before becoming law.
The 2027 Legislative Session may still be months away, but the decisions shaping that session are already underway. Our call to love our neighbors includes paying attention, asking questions, and helping ensure their experiences shape public policy.
When we talk about hunger, we often talk about whether our neighbors have enough food. We also need to ask whether they can trust the food on their tables.
Recent reporting raises concerns about the capacity of our public-health systems to investigate outbreaks and protect communities.
For LEAN, supporting food pantries, community meals, and strong public-health systems belongs to the same calling: loving our neighbors.
Who has access to safe food, and what are we doing together to protect that access?
Across Nevada, food banks, congregations, and community ministries help our neighbors put food on the table. That work matters. So do the public decisions that shape whether families can afford groceries after paying for housing, utilities, transportation, and health care.
When we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we are reminded that our neighbors’ well-being is part of our shared responsibility.
This month, Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada invites you to give, serve, listen, and advocate. Support a local pantry. Volunteer with your congregation. Ask elected officials to protect food assistance and invest in families.
What is one action your congregation can take this September?
The 84th Session of the Nevada Legislature doesn’t begin until February 2027.
But here’s the thing: the work has already started.
Interim committees are wrapping up their work. Bill Draft Requests are beginning to take shape. Advocates, agencies, legislators and community organizations are already identifying the issues that could define the next legislative session.
And LEAN is paying attention.
Here are some of the big areas we’re watching:
Housing Affordability Nevada has made important investments in housing, but building more housing doesn’t automatically make it affordable. We’ll be watching tenant protections, senior rents, fees, homelessness, affordable housing, manufactured housing and institutional investors.
Hunger & Food Insecurity Federal SNAP changes could have major consequences for Nevada families and our state budget. Charity matters, but we cannot food-drive our way out of hunger.
Health Care & Maternal Health With maternity services disappearing in some communities and rural Nevada already facing serious gaps in care, access to maternal health, Medicaid, behavioral health and health-care workers will be important.
Energy & Data Centers Data centers bring investment, but they also require enormous amounts of electricity, water and infrastructure. Who receives the benefits — and who gets the bill?
Water & the Colorado River Nevada is a desert. As the Colorado River shrinks, difficult choices are coming about conservation, growth and who bears the burden.
Creation Care Public lands. Wildfire. Extreme heat. Renewable energy. Water. Wildlife. Development. How do we grow while caring for the Nevada future generations will inherit?
Public Education Nevada has made historic investments in education. Now lawmakers are asking what accountability should look like. LEAN will be asking whether Nevada’s children have the resources and opportunities they need to flourish.
Criminal Justice Public safety and accountability matter. So do rehabilitation, restoration, reentry and human dignity.
Immigration & Welcoming Communities Federal immigration decisions are felt locally—in our families, workplaces, schools and congregations. How do we welcome our neighbor and protect human dignity?
Voting Rights & Democracy LEAN is nonpartisan. But nonpartisan does not mean disengaged. Accessible voting and trustworthy elections matter for healthy communities.
Economic Justice & Nevada’s Budget Eventually almost every conversation comes back to one question:
How are we going to pay for it?
Budgets aren’t just spreadsheets. They tell a story about our priorities.
This isn’t LEAN’s final 2027 legislative agenda. We still have months to go, hundreds of bills haven’t even been written, and Nevada will undoubtedly surprise us.
But we’re watching.
We’re learning.
We’re listening.
And when February comes, we’ll be ready to show up.
The Legislature doesn’t begin until February. Faithful advocacy begins now.
Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada 