Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) on Wednesday signed into law a pair of criminal justice reform bills, including one that restores voting rights to convicted felons following their release from prison.
"I just signed two criminal justice reform bills that will restore fairness and justice to thousands of Nevadans," Sisolak said on Twitter following the signing. "I'm so excited about the positive impact these bills will have on our communities, especially communities of color."
I just signed two criminal justice reform bills that will restore fairness and justice to thousands of Nevadans. I'm so excited about the positive impact these bills will have on our communities, especially communities of color. 1/3 — Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) May 29, 2019
The first measure Sisolak signed, known as Assembly Bill 431, immediately grants the right to vote to felons released from prison or discharged from parole or probation. The law will replace one that granted certain felons the right to vote two years after their prison release, The Associated Press noted.
Sisolak said the legislation, which is set to go into effect on July 1, will re-enfranchise about 77,000 state residents.
The other measure Sisolak signed into law will streamline the process for sealing low-level marijuana convictions. The AP reported that the law allows a person to ask a court to seal records for any offense that has since been decriminalized.
The 2nd was #AB192, sponsored by @WillMcCurdyII, which establishes a process for sealing the records of people convicted of an offense that has been decriminalized. As we look toward the future of legal cannabis, it’s time also to provide a better future for these Nevadans. 3/3 pic.twitter.com/ReipS9cDvD — Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) May 29, 2019
"As we look toward the future of legal cannabis, it’s time also to provide a better future for these Nevadans," the first-year governor said on Twitter.
The moves from Sisolak come as discussions around voting rights and marijuana decriminalization gain attention among state legislatures.
Florida voters in November approved an amendment automatically restoring voting rights to approximately 1.5 million felons released from prison in the state. The Florida House passed a bill last month that would make felons pay all court fees and costs in addition to restitution before becoming eligible to vote.
irony_tower on June 1st, 2019 at 13:33 UTC »
A list of accomplishments by Nevada Dems since gaining control of the state
Defying the Trump EO and continuing to let trans people serve in the NV National Guard
Expanding early and absentee voting
voter re-enfranchisement for everyone not currently incarcerated
banning prison gerrymandering
moving local election dates to coincide with state/federal ones
allowing polling places on Native American reservations
expanded marijuana decriminalization and medicinal legalization
sealing records for marijuana offenses
made minor traffic violations into civil infractions so you don't have a criminal record for things like speeding or parking tickets
passed a law making it easier for city governments to upzone
tax credit program for building low income housing near public transportation
repealed the ban on collective bargaining for unions
banned gay conversion therapy
banned the use of a victims sexual or gender orientation as an excuse for violent crimes. The "gay panic" defense will no longer be accepted in the Nevada court of law.
codified the ACA's protection for pre-existing conditions into state law, so that even a federal repeal would not affect the state's.
Passing a bill which removes restrictions on abortions such as age restrictions, requirements for doctors to ask about the husband, and requiring a witness to approve the abortion. It also decriminalizes giving women after-sex contraception, birth control, and abortion drugs without doctor's consent.
jdr34d on June 1st, 2019 at 11:34 UTC »
I think people in prison should be able to vote, and I have a very simple reason for it. A corrupt government should not be able to suppress voters through incarceration.
Xechwill on June 1st, 2019 at 10:19 UTC »
That’s good to hear; convicted felons should have been rehabilitated in prison. If they aren’t, then the prison system must not be working and needs reform (which it does). I’ll never get why people are opposed to it