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Lawmakers Approve Deep Cuts On Final Day Of Special Session

Assemblywoman Sara Peters adjusts her mask during the legislative special session.
Associated Press

Assemblywoman Sara Peters adjusts her mask during the legislative special session.

Lawmakers wrapped up the 31 st special session of the state legislature last night.

All together, the session lasted 12 days, which included a positive COVID-19 test, partisan sparring over mining taxes and deep cuts to social services.

The legislature had to make up $1.2 billion in funding shortfalls caused by the pandemic and the economic lockdown it caused.

Medicaid, educational programs like Read by Grade 3 and the Nevada System of Higher Education have all seen reductions.

Also, Gov. Steve Sisolak postponed an anticipated second special session due to the surge in new cases.

In a statement, he said issues such as police reform and workplace protections against the pandemic are still urgent, but he has reservations about asking lawmakers to meet while infection rates are still climbing.

Bert Johnson, legislative reporter, KNPR; Steve Sebelius, politics and government editor, Las Vegas Review-Journal

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Bert is a reporter and producer based in Reno, where he covers the state legislature and stories that resonate across Nevada. He began his career in journalism after studying abroad during the summer of 2011 in Egypt, during the Arab Spring. Before he joined Nevada Public Radio and Capital Public Radio, Bert was a contributor at KQED and the Sacramento News & Review. He was also a photographer, video editor and digital producer at the East Bay Express.