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Are Nevada lawmakers limited in what they can do in special sessions?

By Hanna Fahsholtz
YES

According to the Nevada Constitution, the governor may call the Legislature into a special session for a specific purpose, in which case the Legislature may only introduce, consider or pass bills on the agenda set by the governor.

Once in special sessions, lawmakers can amend and make changes to bills outlined in the special session proclamation, but cannot introduce new bills or veer from the directions included in the proclamation.

The Legislature itself may convene a special session for a specific purpose if two-thirds of the members of each house sign a petition for the special session. In this case, the Legislature may only consider bills specified in the petition. Assembly Democrats currently hold a supermajority 28 of 42 seats, while Democrats hold 13 of 21 seats in the Senate — one short of the supermajority needed to petition and set the agenda for a special session.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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