Nevada Legislature update: Lawmakers begin deep dive into $1.2B of budget cuts

Lawmakers began the task of filling the $1.2 billion hole in the state’s budget on Wednesday as they kicked off their special session with a litany of budget and agency briefings throughout the day.

Both the Assembly and Senate started their days with a budget overview from Susan Brown, director of the Governor’s Office of Finance, with the Senate taking up budgets from the Department of Health and Human Services and Capital Improvement Program, which funds buildings and public works programs, and the Assembly dealing with K-12 and higher education funding in the afternoon.

They also swore in the newest member: Kasina Douglass-Boone, who was appointed to fill the Assembly District 17 seat left vacant after Democrat Tyrone Thompson died unexpectedly last May.

As the meetings and physical building are closed to the public because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, proceedings were livestreamed and public comment was provided through phone lines. Watch the meetings live here.

Masks, social distancing and a fight over remote voting
Most of the Legislature’s normal procedures have been thrown out of the window in favor of new, safety-centered protocols adopted by the Legislative Counsel Bureau for the special session.

The Legislature’s physical building in Carson City is closed to members of the public and lobbyists for the duration of the special session, leaving the normally packed halls of the building empty. Legislative leadership offices, a favorite hangout and waiting room for lobbyists, are restricted to just two guests at a time.

Policies inside the actual chambers have changed as well. In the Senate, plexiglass panels have been installed between every other seat, with senators required to wear masks while moving in the chamber and asked to sit while speaking when they normally would have stood.

In the Assembly, the large glass panels separating the chamber from public seating areas have been removed, with several lawmakers placed in those spaces in order to allow Assembly members to be seated at least six feet apart to meet social distancing requirements.

Other notable changes inside the building included closed water fountains, abundant hand sanitizer dispensing stations and universal mask wearing.

Outside, the Nevada National Guard conducted temperature and health screenings of anyone entering the building. Several groups including state workers, educators, and anti-mask activists unable to enter the building also posted up outside.

Once the Legislature was called into session, members of both bodies voted to adopt rules allowing for remote voting and meeting attendance to take place, which Democratic leadership touted as a necessary safety precaution but Republicans opposed, saying it violated constitutional requirements that votes take place in the seat of government.

Members of the Assembly also adopted rules requiring a face covering or mask. Those found to be violating the rule will be barred from voting or speaking while in legislative chambers, except to apologize or explain their actions.

The Assembly rules also set guidelines for people who are exposed to COVID-19. Members who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or quarantined after an exposure must immediately notify legislative leaders and leave the building.

Members are permitted to continue working after an exposure if they are asymptomatic, are screened daily, wear a mask and practice social distancing.

— This report was written by Riley Snyder, Megan Messerly and Michelle Rindells of The Nevada Independent. Go here for updates to this and other stories.