Nevada state Assemblymember Shea Backus (D-Las Vegas), a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, announced a bill draft request on Indigenous People’s Day. The request seeks to establish a statewide Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) Alert system in Nevada, aiming to address the ongoing crisis surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous people in the state. The announcement was made in front of the welcome to Las Vegas sign.
The intent of the bill draft request (BDR) is to create a coordinated statewide system to rapidly share information with law enforcement, Tribal Nations, media, and the public. This dissemination of information would occur when an Indigenous person goes missing under qualifying circumstances. The proposed alert would function similarly to existing alert systems, such as Amber and Silver alerts. Backus noted the critical role of time when someone goes missing, stating that an MMIP alert would help get vital information out to the public, enabling more people to be on the lookout and potentially share information that could aid in locating them.
Several other states, including Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, and California, already have similar alert systems for missing Indigenous people. Assemblymember Backus also indicated that the proposed bill would serve as an omnibus bill, designed to address various issues affecting Native American communities. This includes cleanup language intended to protect Indian children subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Native Voters Alliance Nevada assisted in authoring the bill and has identified its passage as a priority for 2027. Barbara Hartzell, executive director of Native Voters Alliance Nevada, highlighted the disproportionate rates of violent crime that impact Indigenous people. Hartzell recalled personal experiences, mentioning listening to her grandfather recount stories of aunts, sisters, and cousins who went missing without proper investigation. She emphasized that no family should have to become an investigator, an advocate, and a public relations campaign simply to convince someone to search for a loved one.
National data underscores the severity of the crisis, indicating that more than four out of five Indigenous people in the U.S. have experienced violent crime. These figures represent some of the highest rates of violence for any demographic. Indigenous women, in particular, face a significantly elevated risk, being nearly three times more likely to be murdered than white women.
Nevada Democratic U.S. Representatives Steven Horsford and Dina Titus spoke at the event, voicing their support for the proposed legislation. Representative Horsford stated, "Every missing loved one deserves an urgent response, and every family deserves answers." It is important to note that bill draft requests (BDRs) are not official bills; rather, they are requests made by lawmakers for a draft of a proposed bill that can then be further amended and discussed during the legislative session.
