Two bills, one related to medical aid in dying and another that would ban semi-automatic weapons to anyone under 21, passed Nevada’s Assembly recently.
They were also passed two years ago, but Republican Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed them as part of his record 75 vetoes.
Why would Democrats bring them back two years later to a governor who is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and has stood in praise of President Donald Trump, also endorsed by the NRA?
Battleborn Progress Spokesperson Jacob Solis told State of Nevada he thinks lawmakers have retailored the legislation enough to gain bipartisan support.
He said bills such as AB 105, which would prohibit firearms within 100 feet of election site entrances, have undergone rewrites.
“If you're just walking through a mall or a shopping center and you have a concealed carry permit, you would not be caught up in this legislation,” said Solis. “You would not be committing a crime. If you are there with the intent of disrupting an election site, and you have a weapon, then you would be caught up.”
Medical aid in dying has also come back before lawmakers for a fifth legislative session in a row.
Lobbyist Elliot Malin has helped shepherd the legislation through the legislative process. He said the bill keeps coming back because Nevadans overwhelmingly support the policy.
“We know that Nevadans overwhelmingly support this by about 68%, and so I think it's important that we keep pushing and we keep fighting to give all Nevada's dignity at the end of life,” Malin said.
Of course, simply passing the legislation again doesn’t mean Governor Lombardo will sign the legislation into law.
Assembly Minority Leader, Republican, Greg Haffen of Pahrump said it will all come down to whether lawmakers were able to address the governor’s concerns.
“There are some bills that [Democrats] are bringing back word for word from last legislative session, and I anticipate that the governor will veto those again,” said Hafen. “The bills where the sponsor worked on it in the interim to address the concerns of the governor, I believe, will actually ultimately get signed.”
Guests: Jacob Solis, Battleborn Progress; Elliot Malin, Republican lobbyist; Gregory Hafen, Assembly Minority Leader (R-Pahrump)
