Nevada Assembly Bill 156 (AB156) continues to make progress this legislative session, following a successful committee hearing that advanced the bill for further consideration. The bill, which seeks to establish fair compensation for elected school board trustees in large school districts like the Clark County School District (CCSD), has drawn strong support from community advocates, including members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.
On March 17 and 18, 2025, AANHPI community leaders and members from across Nevada gathered in Carson City for AANHPI Advocacy Days. Organized by One APIA Nevada, the two-day event brought dozens of constituents face-to-face with lawmakers from both parties. Among the top legislative priorities discussed: Assembly Bill 156.
“We spoke directly with legislators and emphasized how important this bill is to our communities,” said Jenny Koo, president of the Nevada Chinese Association in Las Vegas. “Families care deeply about education. Fair compensation for school board trustees helps ensure diverse voices—including ours—can serve and lead.”
Currently, school board trustees in many Nevada districts serve without pay or with minimal stipends, which limits who can afford to run for and serve in these influential roles. AB156 aims to remove that financial barrier, allowing more working-class, immigrant, and minority individuals to participate in school governance—especially in large, diverse districts like Clark County. CCSD is the fifth-largest school district in the country by number of students.
“AB156 is about access and accountability,” said a community organizer from One APIA Nevada. “Compensating school board members fairly helps promote equity and professionalism in our education system. It’s time we open these seats to a broader range of leaders who reflect the families they serve.”
In Nevada’s largest school districts, such as Clark and Washoe, the majority of public school students come from communities of color, including large AANHPI populations. Advocates argue that without compensation, boards lack the representation needed to make decisions that reflect the lived experiences and needs of the communities they serve.
AB156’s recent progress in the Assembly Education Committee signals growing bipartisan recognition of the issue. As the bill advances, community organizations like One APIA Nevada vow to keep up the momentum.
“We will continue pressing forward,” the organization said. “This bill has broad grassroots support, and our AANHPI communities are ready to show up, speak out, and make a difference.”
What You Can Do:
Call or email your state Assembly and Senate representatives and ask them to support AB156.
Share your story: If you’ve ever considered running for school board—or know someone who has—explain how compensation would make a difference.
Follow One APIA Nevada on social media to stay updated and join upcoming advocacy efforts by visiting oneapianevada.org and tapping direct links to Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok@oneapianevada.
To learn more about the bill and its progress, also visit: leg.state.nv.us.
(By One Voice)
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