A's Bill SB1 Passes Through Nevada Senate

There are only a few hurdles remaining before a deal with Las Vegas becomes official

After a rough showing for the A's representatives and the initial version of SB1 (formerly SB509), the state senate in Nevada has passed the bill after some amendments were added over the last five days. 

Earlier in the day, the bill passed the Senate Committee of the Whole by a 12-7 vote before heading to the senate. 

Sean Golonka of the Nevada Independent has been on top of all of the new amendments that have been added to the bill, which included restricting the bill to the Tropicana site, more requirements for community benefits, and more money paid back to the state for tax credits. 

He later reported that language from two bills that had previously been vetoed by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo had been added to the A's ballpark bill. The previously vetoed bills (SB429 and SB299) concerned paid family leave, and prevailing wage in monorail projects. 

Once those additions were made, it seemed as though the writing was on the wall for the passage of SB1, at least in the senate. The inclusion of those two bills with the A's bill was enough to get past the first of two main hurdles in the A's relocation efforts. The senate passed the bill with a 13-8 vote. 

The next step will be in the Assembly, both in committee and the Assembly itself, where there is some staunch opposition to the bill, at least as previously constructed. We'll have to wait and see if the amendments sway enough people to get this passed in both houses before landing on Lombardo's desk for a signature.

From there, the 30 MLB owners would have to vote to approve relocation, with 75% approval needed to continue moving forward. It is presumed that vote will go in favor of relocation.

One unforeseen wrinkle in the process could be the legislation that representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12) and Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) introduced on Tuesday. The 'Moneyball Act' "would require owners of any professional baseball club seeking to relocate to compensate the state and local authorities they move away from. If the owners do not oblige, then Major League Baseball would be subject to the anti-trust laws they have been exempt from for over a century."

Representatives Lee and DeSaulnier are introducing legislation to address @MLB’s Anti-Trust Exemption. pic.twitter.com/IbhHzLXg9o

— Casey Pratt (@CaseyAPratt) June 13, 2023

With the anti-trust exemption, it essentially makes competition for baseball non-existent. That could be something that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and the owners would very much like to keep intact. 

Even if SB1 passes all of the necessary hurdles in Nevada, the A's ballpark saga seems to have a couple of twists and turns left.