Assembly-member? Assembly-person? Nevadans Just Want You to Do Your Job

Social media post by Assemblymember Erica Roth prior to the close of the legislative session.

In a state facing real, urgent problems — skyrocketing housing costs, crumbling school infrastructure, underfunded healthcare, and overburdened services for families — one of our state legislators sprung into action during the legislative session with what she clearly considered a priority emergency.

No, it wasn’t school funding. or the homeless crisis. It’s not even DMV wait times. It’s... changing the word "Assemblymember" to "Assemblyperson."

Yes, really.

Junior legislator Erica Roth submitted an emergency Bill Draft Request to update the already-updated title, proving once again that when it comes to priorities in Carson City, some elected folks are less about public service and more about semantic selfies.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about inclusivity — the title “Assemblymember” is already gender-neutral and universally used across many states. Roth wasn’t making history. She clearly wanted headlines.

An average Nevadan wants their elected representatives to work on better education, taxes, better access to healthcare, housing affordability, safer streets and public areas, more transparency, etc. You know what’s not on that list? A burning desire to relabel job titles in the legislative directory.

While Roth was busy fine-tuning her nameplate, other lawmakers (hopefully) were trying to figure out how to prevent another teacher shortage, how to keep seniors from being priced out of their homes, and how to ensure that kids in Lyon County don’t have to take math classes in the cafeteria because there’s no space. Roth? Laser-focused on the title used on the Assembly’s stationery.

It’s not what your title is — it’s what you do. And by that metric, this move leaves Assemblymember (or person, or whatever) Roth squarely in the “doing nothing useful” category.

If she really wants to stand out, here’s a radical idea: in 2027 if reelected - draft a bill that solves something. Work on bipartisan reform. Cut red tape. Fund schools. Make something actually better.

Because Nevadans don’t care what you’re called — but they will remember what you failed to do while you were busy wordsmithing your way to irrelevance.