NV · Officeholder
DState Senator · District 21
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Nevada Senate District 21
James Ohrenschall is a Democratic state senator from Nevada who has represented District 21 since 2018 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election; he is an attorney who earlier served in the Nevada State Assembly.[1][2]
Ohrenschall earned a B.A. in economics and a J.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his professional experience includes working as an attorney.[1]
He represented Assembly District 12 from 2006 to 2018 and assumed his Senate seat on November 7, 2018.[1] In the 2025-2026 session, Ballotpedia lists him as chair of the Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee, vice chair of the Senate Government Affairs Committee and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
James Ohrenschall is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Nevada Senate District 21 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
Most contested
Revises provisions relating to employment. (BDR 23-1027)
On the version voted May 29, 2025: Raises paid family leave for state executive-branch workers from 8 to 12 weeks, eligible after 90 days instead of 12 months, with wage-based pay. Also requires private and local-government employers with 50 or more employees to provide 12 weeks of paid family leave.
Jun 2, 2025 · Passed 11–9 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to medical debt. (BDR 52-135)
On the version voted May 29, 2025: Bars health care entities and collection agencies from using arrest, liens or foreclosure on real property that includes a primary residence, federal tax refund garnishment, or bank account seizure to collect medical debt. Delays extraordinary collection actions until 180 days after the first bill.
Jun 2, 2025 · Passed 12–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to motor carriers. (BDR 58-963)
Requires certain freight-only motor carriers to file liability insurance or a bond of at least $1,000,000 from January 1, 2026, $1,250,000 from 2028 and $1,500,000 from 2030.
Apr 22, 2025 · Passed 11–10 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revises provisions relating to the prevention of gun violence. (BDR 18-958)
On the version voted May 31, 2025: Requires the Attorney General to appoint a Special Counsel for the Prevention of Gun Violence to advise on gun violence prevention, collect gun-law arrest and prosecution data, and optionally run a grant program for prevention initiatives.
May 28, 2025 · Passed 11–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to the Department of Indigent Defense Services. (BDR 14-492)
Makes the Indigent Defense Services Executive Director serve at the pleasure of the Board on Indigent Defense Services, generally removable only for good cause, and has the Executive Director appoint the State Public Defender instead of the Governor.
May 27, 2025 · Passed 12–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to firearms. (BDR 15-648)
On the version voted Apr 22, 2025: Makes it a gross misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to possess a semiautomatic shotgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle, with exceptions (military, law enforcement, some range and hunting use); makes selling one to under-21s a felony; extends child-access and unsafe-storage offenses to under-21s.
May 21, 2025 · Passed 12–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revises provisions relating to medical debt. (BDR 52-135)
On the version voted May 29, 2025: Bars health care entities and collection agencies from using arrest, liens or foreclosure on real property that includes a primary residence, federal tax refund garnishment, or bank account seizure to collect medical debt. Delays extraordinary collection actions until 180 days after the first bill.
Jun 2, 2025 · Passed 12–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Makes revisions relating to health care. (BDR 40-705)
On the version voted Jun 2, 2025: Makes many health care changes, including licensing hospital-owned freestanding emergency facilities, requiring Medicaid value-based payments for them, Medicaid record audits, barring noncompete covenants for patient-facing providers, and requiring timely, fee-free release of health records.
May 27, 2025 · Passed 12–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Establishes provisions governing prescription drugs. (BDR 40-165)
On the version voted May 27, 2025: Bars buying or seeking reimbursement for a drug in Nevada at a price above the federal Medicare maximum fair price. Certain federally regulated health coverage providers are exempt but may elect to be covered.
Jun 2, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revises provisions concerning access to certain library materials. (BDR 34-925)
On the version voted May 21, 2025: Bars school boards, charter schools and staff from removing, hiding, labeling or defacing school library materials to limit pupil access, with similar rules for public libraries; lets a parent seek court removal of obscene material; creates felonies for coercion or retaliatory release of personal information.
Jun 2, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to charter schools. (BDR 34-89)
Requires charter schools to give their sponsor notice of building projects costing over $100,000, plus competitive bidding documents and prevailing wage records.
May 29, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to juvenile justice. (BDR 5-495)
On the version voted Apr 22, 2025: Removes the requirements that a district attorney give written approval, and that the child make certain admissions, before a juvenile court dismisses a petition and refers the child to a probation officer for informal supervision.
May 22, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revises provisions relating to real property. (BDR 10-84)
Caps purchases of residential real property by corporations, limited-liability companies and affiliates at 100 units statewide per calendar year, and requires a registry of those buyers kept by the Securities Division.
May 27, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions governing certain actions and proceedings relating to real property. (BDR 3-819)
As introduced, replaces the summary eviction procedures for non-commercial tenants: a landlord applies by affidavit of complaint and serves the tenant, who must answer within 7 judicial days, instead of the tenant filing an affidavit to contest.
May 22, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to the habitability of rental property. (BDR 10-684)
On the version voted Apr 22, 2025: Lets tenants file a verified complaint for expedited relief when a landlord fails to fix habitability problems, and revises rental agreement content, rent payment rules, tenant remedies, and amounts recoverable for unlawful landlord acts or missing disclosures.
May 21, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
On the version voted Apr 21, 2025: Bans intentionally releasing balloons filled with lighter-than-air gas, with exceptions such as hot air balloons, certain research balloons and indoor releases, and allows civil penalties sought by the Attorney General or local attorneys.
May 23, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to wildlife. (BDR 45-555)
Applies the ban on wasting edible portions of game to all big game mammals, including mountain lions and black bears, and removes the carnivore exception from the ban on taking only a head or hide.
Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Establishes provisions relating to the environment. (BDR 52-585)
On the version voted Jun 2, 2025: Makes utensils and condiments in delivery orders opt-in, bans manufacturers from selling carpets, cosmetics, food packaging and certain other products with intentionally added PFAS from 2026, sets aside redevelopment revenue for shade landscaping, and requires formaldehyde testing of hair products in Clark County.
May 26, 2025 · Passed 13–7 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revises provisions relating to motor carriers. (BDR 58-963)
Requires certain freight-only motor carriers to file liability insurance or a bond of at least $1,000,000 from January 1, 2026, $1,250,000 from 2028 and $1,500,000 from 2030.
Apr 22, 2025 · Passed 11–10 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions governing driver authorization cards. (BDR 43-200)
On the version voted Apr 17, 2025: Changes driver authorization cards from a four-year expiration to one set by Department of Motor Vehicles regulations, which must match driver's license periods where federal law allows.
May 21, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to autonomous vehicles. (BDR 43-61)
Requires a trained human operator with a commercial driver's license in autonomous vehicles over 26,000 pounds, and those with over two axles that carry eight or more passengers, from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2035.
Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 14–7 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revises provisions relating to the processing of certain data. (BDR 52-505)
On the version voted Jun 2, 2025: Bars online services from processing children's personal data for certain purposes, sets rules for collecting and processing children's data, requires data protection assessments, and allows civil enforcement and penalties.
May 27, 2025 · Passed 13–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted May 26, 2025: Limits state and local agencies' collection and disclosure of autism-related data, and sets crimes and civil liability for unauthorized genetic testing, disclosure of a person's genetic information, and selling or transferring a person's DNA sample without consent.
May 29, 2025 · Passed 13–7 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revises provisions relating to autonomous vehicles. (BDR 43-61)
Requires a trained human operator with a commercial driver's license in autonomous vehicles over 26,000 pounds, and those with over two axles that carry eight or more passengers, from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2035.
Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 14–7 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 3 of 155 party-divided votes on file.
Revises various provisions relating to motor vehicles. (BDR 43-231)
What it does: On the version voted May 30, 2025: Requires the DMV, if it offers online registration, to contract with a licensed lender to offer installment loans for registration fees and taxes, with charges capped at 15 percent o…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 11–2, Republicans 2–6
Jun 2, 2025Official record ↗
Revises provisions related to animals. (BDR 50-793)
What it does: Lets officers humanely destroy an animal treated cruelly on a court order or veterinary recommendation, ends court-ordered auctions of such animals, removes the agricultural-land exemption from seizure rules, and rais…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 11–2, Republicans 3–5
Jun 2, 2025Official record ↗
Revises provisions relating to elections communications. (BDR 24-733)
What it does: On the version voted May 29, 2025: Makes it a misdemeanor, and a gross misdemeanor for repeat offenses, to threaten bodily injury or property damage to a candidate or their family. Lets candidates report threats to th…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 12–1, Republicans 1–7
May 31, 2025Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Revises provisions relating to public safety. (BDR 43-490)
With most of their party · Passed 11–8 · Yes 11–No 8 · Democrats 11–0, Republicans 0–8
May 28, 2025Official record ↗
Revises provisions relating to the prevention of gun violence. (BDR 18-958)
With most of their party · Passed 11–8 · Yes 11–No 8 · Democrats 11–0, Republicans 0–8
May 28, 2025Official record ↗
Revises provisions relating to members of the Assembly of the Nevada Legislature. (BDR 17-1235)
With most of their party · Passed 11–8 · Yes 11–No 8 · Democrats 11–0, Republicans 0–8
May 28, 2025Official record ↗
Revises provisions relating to employment. (BDR 23-1027)
With most of their party · Passed 11–9 · Yes 11–No 9 · Democrats 11–1, Republicans 0–8
Jun 2, 2025Official record ↗
Revises provisions relating to medical debt. (BDR 52-135)
With most of their party · Passed 12–8 · Yes 12–No 8 · Democrats 12–0, Republicans 0–8
Jun 2, 2025Official record ↗
Makes revisions relating to health care. (BDR 40-705)
With most of their party · Passed 12–8 · Yes 12–No 8 · Democrats 12–0, Republicans 0–8
May 27, 2025Official record ↗
Revises provisions relating to the Department of Indigent Defense Services. (BDR 14-492)
With most of their party · Passed 12–8 · Yes 12–No 8 · Democrats 12–0, Republicans 0–8
May 27, 2025Official record ↗
Revises provisions relating to firearms. (BDR 15-648)
With most of their party · Passed 12–8 · Yes 12–No 8 · Democrats 12–0, Republicans 0–8
May 21, 2025Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Motion: Final Passage
On the version voted Nov 16, 2025: Changes criminal law on assault, battery, stalking, child sexual abuse material, domestic violence and DUI, adds theft-related property damage offenses, and changes juvenile justice, record sealing, pretrial release and opioid use disorder provisions.
Motion: Final Passage
On the version voted Nov 16, 2025: Creates the Nevada Studio Infrastructure Jobs and Workforce Training Act, offering film infrastructure transferable tax credits for productions at the Summerlin Production Studios project, and funds film workforce education and training.
Motion: Final Passage
Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring county clerks to mail a ballot to each active registered voter, letting voters opt out, requiring polling places to accept mail ballots, and requiring mail ballot drop-off sites in the three days before elections.
Motion: Final Passage
On the version voted Nov 16, 2025: Changes criminal law on assault, battery, stalking, child sexual abuse material, domestic violence and DUI, adds theft-related property damage offenses, and changes juvenile justice, record sealing, pretrial release and opioid use disorder provisions.
Motion: Final Passage
Motion: Final Passage
On the version voted Nov 18, 2025: Adds federal Portal-to-Portal Act exclusions to Nevada wage law, so activities such as waiting time, preparatory and concluding activities, certain training and meetings, and travel time are not compensable working time.
Motion: Final Passage
On the version voted Nov 17, 2025: Makes the presumption that lung disease is job-related for qualifying police officers, firefighters and arson investigators apply without proof of exposure to smoke, fumes or gases, and applies it to claims already filed.
Motion: Final Passage
On the version voted Nov 14, 2025: Exempts holders of nonrestricted gaming licenses, and certain affiliates, from the rule requiring liquor retailers to pay wholesalers by electronic funds transfer, and applies the same exemption to some restricted licensees.
Motion: Final Passage
On the version voted Nov 19, 2025: Makes supplemental appropriations for state government operations for the 2025-2027 biennium, raises the maximum annual salary of the state Chief Information Officer, and changes the membership of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education.
Motion: Final Passage
Creates a competitive Statewide Health Care Access and Recruitment Grant Program, funded by a state account, to support projects addressing shortages of health care providers, and requires a biennial assessment of the state's health care workforce needs.
Showing 10 of 256 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.