Nevada and BLM Strike Data-Sharing Agreement to Address Housing Crisis
CARSON CITY, NV — In a strategic move to combat the state’s housing crisis, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at streamlining data sharing around public lands eligible for development. Signed on Tuesday, the agreement marks a significant step in enhancing collaborative efforts between state and federal governments.
The federal government oversees approximately 80% of Nevada’s land, and Lombardo’s administration has long advocated for making some of this land available for housing projects, particularly in Clark County. A recent report from the UNLV Lied Center for Real Estate highlighted the housing supply constraints stemming from a slowdown in construction during and after the Great Recession, estimating that over 281,000 homes could have been built between 2010 and 2025 if development had maintained its pace.
Nicholas Irwin, research director at UNLV, emphasized the practical implications of the MOU, stating it would centralize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data from multiple agencies, aiding effective decision-making for future housing projects.
While the agreement will last for three years and includes no funding requirements, it mandates that BLM share data about federally-managed lands that may be developed, while Nevada will map out existing infrastructure.
Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui, who is spearheading several housing-related bills in the Nevada Legislature, views the data-sharing initiative as a vital tool in addressing housing shortages. However, she acknowledged that immediate and multi-faceted solutions are necessary to tackle the ongoing housing dilemma, given the state only has eight years’ worth of land available for development.
As stakeholders await the effects of this agreement, the timeline for actionable development remains uncertain, raising questions about the speed of future housing initiatives.
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