Should Gov. Joe Lombardo request a special legislative session, Nevada Senate Democrats said Tuesday that they would request up to $136.5 million to create an emergency program that would fully supplement paused federal food stamp benefits through December, if needed.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, serves nearly 500,000 Nevadans at a monthly cost to the federal government of about $90 million.

SNAP benefits were paused on Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown, prompting the state to provide nearly $40 million to supplement two food banks in Nevada that supply hundreds of food pantries, days earlier.

Two courts on Friday ordered the Trump administration to continue funding the program . The U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated it would

See Full Page