AB 85 Nevada Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Authorizes the management of designated invertebrates. (BDR 45-229)

AB 85 expands Nevada’s wildlife management to include "designated invertebrates," such as non-pest species identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan as needing conservation. It revises the definition of "wildlife" to explicitly include these invertebrates and creates a new classification for them under the Board of Wildlife Commissioners. The bill requires designated invertebrates to be listed as "fully protected" species when necessary, prohibiting their capture or harm without a permit, and applies existing wildlife fees and penalties to violations involving them. This directly affects the Department of Wildlife, the Board of Wildlife Commissioners, and anyone interacting with these protected invertebrates.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 9, 2024 Last action Jun 3, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced Reprint 1 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to clarify that designated invertebrates are not pests, add a new definition for 'pest' referencing existing state law, and require the Department of Wildlife to coordinate with the State Department of Agriculture when preparing the State Wildlife Action Plan. These changes ensure pollinator protection efforts are integrated into wildlife conservation planning and prevent unintended exclusion of beneficial insects.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly excludes pests from the definition of designated invertebrates and requires interagency coordination between wildlife and agriculture departments.
DEFINITION

Added a new Section 2.5 defining 'pest' as having the meaning from NRS 555.005, clarifying that pests are excluded from designated invertebrate protections.

Modified Section 2 to explicitly state that the term 'designated invertebrate' does not include pests, replacing the previous 'nonpest species' language with clearer exclusion criteria.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 3.5 requiring the Department of Wildlife to coordinate with the State Department of Agriculture and consider the Nevada Managed Pollinator Protection Plan when preparing the State Wildlife Action Plan.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill header and section references to reflect the new Section 3.5 and revised section numbering from 'sections 2 and 3' to 'sections 2 to 3.5, inclusive'.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. To committee.
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
lower
Dec 9, 2024
Introduced
Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources. To printer.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Howard Watts
Howard Watts
DDemocratic
NV
15