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SB 17 Nevada Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Revises provisions relating to specialty courts. (BDR 14-474)

SB 17 revises Nevada's preprosecution diversion program and substance use disorder treatment programs. It tightens eligibility for diversion by excluding defendants charged with specific misdemeanors (like domestic violence violations, DUI, or stalking) and those with prior convictions for certain offenses (including felonies or violent crimes). The bill also clarifies that all courts (district, justice, and municipal) can establish substance use treatment programs and allows provisional referrals to these programs pending clinical assessment. These changes directly affect defendants facing misdemeanor charges who might qualify for diversion or treatment programs. The bill passed unanimously and was signed into law on May 26, 2025.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands court authority for substance use treatment programs, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform despite tightening eligibility for specific offenses.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables courts to establish substance use treatment programs, directly supporting mental health services access within the justice system.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Assembly Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Nov 4, 2024 Signed May 26, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Reprint 1 → As Enrolled · 4 edits · May 26, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates the rules for Nevada's preprosecution diversion program by narrowing eligibility to exclude individuals charged with specific serious crimes like domestic violence or DUI, and by removing the previous requirement that a defendant must have a clean record to qualify. It also clarifies that all courts (district, justice, and municipal) have the authority to establish substance use treatment programs.
Scope change
The bill narrows the scope of the preprosecution diversion program by adding new exclusions for defendants with prior convictions of felonies, gross misdemeanors, or specific violent offenses, while simultaneously expanding the types of courts authorized to run substance use treatment programs.
ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement that a defendant must have no prior criminal convictions other than minor traffic offenses to qualify for the preprosecution diversion program.

Added specific exclusions preventing defendants charged with crimes of violence, domestic violence, DUI, stalking, or harassment from entering the diversion program.

Added exclusions for defendants who have previously been convicted of felonies, gross misdemeanors, or committed specific violent offenses.

SCOPE

Clarified that district, justice, and municipal courts all have the authority to establish programs for treating alcohol and substance use disorders.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 17, 2025 · Assembly May 19, 2025

How they voted

20–0
Passed
Total votes 20
Apr 17, 2025
D Democratic12
12 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican8
8 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
5
Committee
2
May 26, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor.
executive
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate. In Senate. To enrollment.
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass.
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly.
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 252.) To printer.
upper
Nov 4, 2024
Introduced
Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. To printer.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.