Nevada must be hurting for revenue........
They're not, passenger count and total operations (take offs and landings) for McCarran International have been climbing for years and are at healthy levels (I work for the Dept. of Aviation). Gaming revenue is also up, the 200 mile portion of the I-15 freeway between Vegas and LA is a solid 3-cars-abreast for nearly the entire stretch every Sunday when CA travelers go home. Las Vegas is doing well economically. Culturally... Different story for another time.
This is just an attempt from lawmakers to cash in on the burgeoning drone industry, we modelers are caught in the web again because it's likely the person(s) who wrote the legislation didn't bother (willfully or otherwise) to make the distinction between a 45 lbs., camera carrying, octocopter with the ability to patrol the Las Vegas Strip autonomously via GPS; and a tethered, LA25 powered Flite Streak.
I see the public hearing is on Monday, Dec. 5 and is down the road from my house. This will cost me some vacation time, I'll bring my rubber powered Cub to hopefully prove a point and hope one of the State officials brings a brain cell.