DOGE NEVADA President Brandon Davis recently joined News 3 Las Vegas to discuss the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA), a federal law passed in 1998 that has funneled more than $3.5 billion into Nevada projects through the sale of federally owned land. The intent of the legislation, as former U.S. Senator Richard Bryan explained in the interview, was to ensure that proceeds from land sales in Southern Nevada stayed in the state instead of going back to Washington, D.C. It’s a well-intended law that has, over the last 27 years, become one of Nevada’s largest pools of special project funding.

But as Davis pointed out, the conversation we need to have today isn’t whether SNPLMA has helped—it’s whether the way those billions are being spent truly reflects the needs of everyday Nevadans. Watch the full video by clicking below ⬇️

Of the proceeds from land sales, 5% goes to the State General Education Fund, 10% to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, and the remaining 85% is distributed through grants for parks, trails, conservation areas, and amenities like interpretive walks and pickleball courts. While those projects aren’t inherently bad, Davis argued during the News 3 segment that they’re not the most pressing needs facing Nevada residents.

“We’re 48th in the nation in education. We have a huge teacher shortage. We’re in an affordable housing crisis,” Davis said. “These are all areas where this money—the sale of these lands—could be better used to benefit the people in Southern Nevada.”

He’s not wrong. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2023 Kids Count Data Book, Nevada ranked 48th nationally in overall child well-being, largely due to its poor performance in education metrics. Clark County School District, which serves nearly three-quarters of the state’s students, continues to suffer from overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and aging infrastructure.

At the same time, Nevada’s housing crisis continues to deepen. The state consistently ranks in the top 10 for homelessness per capita. Clark County alone had over 5,000 homeless individuals in 2023, many of them unsheltered. Home prices and rents have skyrocketed while affordable housing construction lags far behind demand.

Meanwhile, SNPLMA has funded $43.6 million in recreational park enhancements in Clark County, including a multi-million-dollar pickleball complex, decorative gardens, and an “interpretive art trail” in Wetlands Park. These projects might be popular with some local voters, but they’re a far cry from critical infrastructure that addresses homelessness, housing, education, or public health.

Davis emphasized that the law’s original purpose was noble, but oversight, transparency, and prioritization have failed to keep up with the public’s changing needs. “Using that money to pay teachers more, build affordable housing, or fund homelessness programs would go a lot further in improving the lives of Nevadans,” he said.

To be clear, changing how SNPLMA funds are allocated would require an act of Congress. But that doesn’t mean the people of Nevada should stay silent. DOGE NEVADA is calling for a serious look at how these billions are being used—and for an effort to revise federal spending formulas that better reflect current public priorities.

This is where DOGE NEVADA steps in. By using AI tools, advanced data analysis, and public records research, the organization is working to bring transparency to every dollar spent. Whether it’s scrutinizing line-item expenditures or highlighting missed opportunities, DOGE NEVADA is fighting to ensure that taxpayer dollars are allocated where they’ll make the biggest difference.

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