Monday, Jun. 5, 2023
Is the Nevada Legislature exempt from the Open Meeting Law?
The Nevada Open Meeting Law ensures that meetings of public bodies are transparent and accessible to the public. However, bodies that are “quasi-judicial” in nature — including the Legislature, the Commission on Judicial Selection and the State Board of Parole Commissioners — are exempt.
A 1994 amendment to the Nevada Constitution imposes some transparency standards. The doors to the Legislature must remain open during sessions and neither the Assembly nor the Senate may adjourn for more than three days or to a different location without the permission of the other. Additionally, all Legislature meetings must be open to the public, with the exception of those that discuss “the character, alleged misconduct, professional competence, or physical or mental health of a person.”
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- State of Nevada Open Meeting Law
- Nevada Legislature NRS 241.016: Application of chapter; exempt meetings and proceedings; specific exceptions; circumvention of chapter.
- Nevada Legislature Sec. 15: Open sessions and meetings; adjournment for more than 3 days or to another place.
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