Politics and Policy

Nevada lawmakers have less than two months until they're forced to wrap up the 2021 session, and they still have a lot of work left to do. For the past week, legislators have cloistered in their offices, holding marathon committee hearings on hundreds of bills. To help us make sense of it all, KUNR’s Morning Edition Host Noah Glick spoke with Political Editor, Paul Boger.

This week officially marked the halfway point of Nevada’s 81st Legislative Session. And with less than 60 days until lawmakers are forced to end the session, they’re beginning to turn their attention to some of the most controversial bills of the year. That includes abolishing the death penalty and reforming the state’s election laws. Joining us now to talk about those measures is KUNR’s Political Editor Paul Boger.

As many as one in four Nevadans could be on Medicaid by the end of fiscal year 2023, according to an analysis by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. That’s forcing state lawmakers to navigate the muddled waters of creating long-term policy during a crisis. KUNR’s Paul Boger spoke with Sen. Julia Ratti, a Democrat who represents the heart of both Sparks and Reno, about some of those issues facing the state.

Eight weeks into the 81st Session of the Nevada Legislature, and lawmakers are still unveiling new bills. This week, the state Senate and Assembly, once again, suspended the rule requiring all legislation be introduced by a certain day. At the same time, committees are holding hearings and methodically making their way through bills. KUNR Morning Edition Host Noah Glick spoke with Political Editor Paul Boger to get a sense of all the happenings in Carson City.

Nevada lawmakers gave themselves a little breathing room this week, delaying the first major deadline of the 2021 legislative session. But even though they'll have more time to introduce bills, pacing in the legislature still feels sluggish. KUNR’s Morning Edition host Noah Glick spoke with political editor Paul Boger to get the latest from Carson City.

Two hundred thirty-nine human trafficking cases were reported in Nevada in 2019. That’s according to the latest statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Week six of the 2021 Nevada Legislature has come and gone, leaving lawmakers with the first major deadline of the session. KUNR’s political editor Paul Boger spoke with Morning Edition host Noah Glick to share what that means.

Water is arguably the most precious natural resource in Nevada. And as climate change increases the threat of drought in the country’s driest state, some lawmakers are looking to protect Nevada’s waters. KUNR’s political editor Paul Boger spoke with Democratic Assemblywoman Sarah Peters of Reno about a set of bills she’s introduced looking to do just that.

One month down, three to go as lawmakers in Nevada move through the 81st regular session. So far, the start of the session has been slow, but a number of large, highly anticipated pieces of legislation are set to be introduced any day now, including the measure that would create innovation zones, which would let tech companies create their own governments in undeveloped areas. KUNR’s Paul Boger spoke with Morning Edition Host Noah Glick to break down the latest.

Election reform is shaping up to become the signature issue of Nevada's 81st legislative session. Among the measures up for consideration is a Republican bill that would gut the state's emergency mail-in voting law, among other changes. Democrats, on the other hand, say they're looking to make those mail-in ballots permanent. KUNR’s Noah Glick spoke with Political Editor Paul Boger about the latest from Carson City.

A Nevada State Senator is apologizing after using racist language during a committee hearing this week. 

As a warning, this story contains offensive language.

Over the past several years, misinformation and propaganda have taken over social media, creating confusion and division. That’s why Republican Assemblywoman Jill Tolles is introducing a measure aimed at promoting information literacy in public schools. KUNR’s Paul Boger spoke with Tolles to learn more about her bill.

They may be in the minority, but Republicans in the Nevada legislature have set an agenda that includes bolstering the economy and reopening the state's schools. They also want to enact what they're calling common sense election reform. KUNR political editor Paul Boger joined Morning Edition host Noah Glick to break down the latest developments in Carson City.