The Legislature is lifting most COVID-related restrictions and mask-wearing requirements for the fully vaccinated in accordance with the recently updated Center for Disease Control guidance, according to a notice sent out by Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Brenda Erdoes on Wednesday.

The updated rules will allow legislators, staff and other persons in the Legislative Building who have received a COVID vaccine to opt out of wearing a mask or continuing to follow social distancing requirements.

The updated rules will also open up the Legislative Building in Carson City to any person without a reservation or appointment starting on Thursday, as long as they obtain a visitor badge showing that they are either fully vaccinated or have recently tested negative for COVID-19. 

The new guidance will still require unvaccinated individuals in the legislative building to wear face masks in public areas of the building, but they can remove the mask if in an office with the doors closed. Wednesday’s announcement comes a little more than a month after the Legislative Building was partially opened to the public for the first time in the 120-day session. Lawmakers started the session with the building closed to everyone save lawmakers, staff and a small press corp.