RENO ” More than a dozen California Republican legislators held a hearing today in Reno to consider ways to prevent their state’s businesses from moving to Nevada.

Business representatives testified that over-regulation, taxes and the cost of doing business drove them from California to Nevada in recent years.

California Assemblyman Dan Logue, who chaired the event, says the goal of the hearing was to address his state’s job crisis and come up with measures to create a friendlier business climate.

The forum drew representatives of more than a dozen businesses that have either already relocated to Nevada or are considering the move.

In the past year, Nevada spent about $1.5 million on ads designed to persuade California businesses to move out of the Golden State.