Four conservative Nevada lobbyists are suing Gov. Steve Sisolak, Attorney General Aaron Ford, Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Brenda Erdoes, and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro.

They argue they are suffering irreparable harm from COVID-19 prevention rules keeping the legislative session largely virtual and barring lobbyists from entering the Legislative Building.

All four were registered lobbyists during the 2019 legislative session.

The complaint was filed in federal District Court.

The lawsuit seeks a court-ordered injunction to immediately allow plaintiffs access to the Capitol to engage in lobbying activities.

The complaint alleges the emergency orders limiting public access to the Legislature violates their constitutional rights to petition the government and free speech.

They also argue Nevada is no longer experiencing an emergency to justify the restrictions.

The 2021 legislative session has been closed to all but lawmakers, essential staff, and some members of the media.

However, officials have announced plans to vaccinate personnel next week and left open the possibility the format will relax later in the 120-day session.

Committee hearings are being conducted virtually, with lawmakers videoconferencing in from their offices rather than gathering together in committee rooms.

Lobbyists are allowed to make appointments with lawmakers through videoconference, although formal registration of lobbyists has not opened up and Assembly Bill 110 modifying lobbyist registration policies is pending.

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a lobbying bill to codify existing interpretations of the Legislative Counsel Bureau and to impose additional disclosure from lobbyists.

Assembly Bill 452 provides for more detailed information on registrations.

Additionally,  the bill requires a supplemental registration to be filed for any changes to registration within 24 hours during a legislative session and within 14 days during the interim.

The bill also clarifies that filing a notice of termination does not relieve the lobbyist of the duty to comply with certain continuing requirements and prohibitions of the Lobbying Act.

The bill is effective immediately.

In a state sweep, Democratic candidate Steve Sisolak won the governor’s race, ending twenty years of Republican control.

Nevada’s gubernatorial election was marked by heavy turnout, which kept voters casting ballots for nearly three hours after polls where scheduled to close, according to the Washington Times.

Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commissioner, beat Republican Adam Laxalt, the state’s attorney general, winning with 49.47 percent of the vote, in what’s called “one of the tightest gubernatorial races in recent Nevada memory.”

Notably, 12 members of Laxalt’s family published an op-ed in the Reno Gazette-Journal opposing his gubernatorial run, and outgoing republican governor Brian Sanodval did not endorse Laxalt.

Sisolak additionally ran against independent candidate Ryan Bundy (son of Cliven Bundy), who received less than 2 percent of the state’s vote.