Public to gain greater access to Nevada Legislature with two weeks left in session
May 14, 2021
A member of the public peers into the front doors of the Nevada Legislature, which is closed to the public due to the pandemic. Image: Ty O Neil
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The halls of Nevada’s legislative building have been quiet this session. That’s likely to change at least a little bit, anyway. The Legislative Counsel Bureau announced this week that close to 500 visitors will be allowed inside at any given time starting Monday.
The legislative building was at first closed to the general public and lobbyists in an effort to limit the risk of COVID-19 spreading among the state’s lawmakers as they convened for a session where much of their focus has been upon dealing with the fallout from the virus. Only legislators, certain essential staff and a handful of reporters were allowed inside. Everyone else, lobbyists included, has been required to participate virtually.
Democratic legislative leaders struck a similar note in statements issued minutes after Sisolak’s announcement.
Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, who has spent weeks stiff-arming questions about when the bill would get a hearing, said finding consensus on the bill was “unlikely” over the remaining two weeks of the session.
“This decision understandably will disappoint many advocates, but it will also not change our commitment to moving other critical legislation this session reforming policing practices, the bail system, and other important aspects of our criminal justice system,” Cannizzaro added.
Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, who saw AB 395 pass on a strict party-line vote in his chamber, also looked to console activists who have spent decades trying to bar capital punishment in Nevada.
Governor, top Democrat call Nevada death penalty repeal dead
KEN RITTER and SAM METZ, Associated Press
May 13, 2021
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CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) Efforts to repeal Nevada’s death penalty law in the current Legislature are dead, Gov. Steve Sisolak and the top Democrat in the Legislature said Thursday.
The governor issued a statement saying he saw “no path forward” for a bill that passed the Assembly on party lines with Democrats in support but that had not received a hearing in the Senate ahead of a Friday deadline.
Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro said lawmakers did not reach a consensus. She called a pact unlikely before the Legislature ends May 31 and said lawmakers would focus on other measures affecting police practices and the court bail system.
Nevada governor’s office reviewing U.S. Treasury’s guidance for spending state’s $2.7 billion in aid Nevada governor’s office reviewing U.S. Treasury’s guidance for spending state’s $2.7 billion in aid
May 12, 2021
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak attends a news conference about the state’s response to coronavirus Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Las Vegas.
AP Photo/John Locher
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Robert Davis) Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said on Monday that his office is reviewing its plan to spend the largest federal aid package in the state’s history.
The state is due to receive $2.7 billion from the American Rescue Plan that was passed by Congress in March. The U.S. Treasury Department on Monday released