January 21, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL BUREAU ANNOUNCES INITIAL 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION LOGISTICS
CARSON CITY-- Today, Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Brenda Erdoes released details on how the
legislature will operate when the 81st Legislative Session begins on February 1st.
“The 81st Session of the Nevada Legislature will begin on February 1, 2021, with the Legislative Building
closed to all persons other than Legislators, essential staff and a small news media pool. Those persons who
are not in the building will be able to observe all of the floor sessions in the Chambers of both houses and all
committee hearings in the various hearing rooms throughout the building via the Legislature’s Website “View
Events” Tab and YouTube. Access for persons not in the Legislative Building to observe and participate in the
committee hearings will be available by reservation through the Legislature’s Website for videoconference
participation through Zoom. This reservation system will be available prior to session and a tutorial will be
included. In addition, persons not in the Legislative Building may provide public comment to committees by
telephone or choose to participate in committee hearings via videoconference at designated sites which are
currently being developed in various locations in the State. Virtual meetings between individual Legislators and
persons who are not in the building will be made possible through Microsoft Teams. A weekly COVID-19
testing regimen for Legislators, staff and the news media pool in the building will be in place during the time the
building is closed.
The first day of the 2021 Legislative Session will be without many of the usual activities. To ensure compliance
with the applicable COVID-19 protocols relating to the number of persons allowed in public gatherings, no
family, friends or others will be allowed. However, a time for families and friends to come to the Legislative
Building in Carson City is anticipated later in the Session.
After Legislators and essential staff have received both COVID-19 vaccinations, the Legislature will initiate a
plan to begin opening the Legislative Building to members of the Public and registered Lobbyists to participate
in committee hearings in person, by reservation through the Legislature’s Website. This reservation system will
be available prior to the opening of the building to the Public and Lobbyists and a tutorial will be included. Each
person who participates in person in a committee hearing will be required to present a completed COVID-19
vaccination card or take a shallow nasal swab Rapid COVID-19 test before entering the building. The tests will
be provided on site at no cost to the person being tested.
During the 81st Session, the Las Vegas Office of the Legislative Counsel Bureau in the Grant Sawyer State
Office Building will be closed and the employees who staff that office will work from home to carry out their
duties, including facilitating the virtual portion of the committee hearings being held in Carson City.
Videoconference participation in committee hearings which was previously provided in that office will be
offered at various sites in the Las Vegas Valley which are currently being developed.
The plan for the 2021 Legislative Session also includes the anticipated introduction of a bill to revise the
statutory provision which currently requires only Lobbyists who appear in person in the Legislative Building to
register with the Legislative Counsel Bureau and be regulated. The proposed bill would remove the portion of
the statute that makes the regulatory requirements apply only to those Lobbyists who appear in person in the
Legislative Building. Such a change would bring Nevada’s Lobbyist Statutes into conformity with similar laws of
other States.”
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CONTACT:
Brenda Erdoes
Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau
(775) 684-6833
erdoes@lcb.state.nv.us
