Establishes procedures to assist certain persons with limited English proficiency in accessing health care in certain circumstances. (BDR 40-41)
SB 188 requires covered health facilities (like hospitals, clinics, and Medicaid providers) to provide free, accurate, and timely language assistance to people with limited English proficiency (LEP) to ensure they can access necessary healthcare. The bill mandates using qualified interpreters or translators for in-person and remote services, prohibits relying on family members or unqualified staff (except in emergencies), and requires qualified review of machine-translated documents. It directly affects LEP patients and health facilities by codifying federal language access standards into state law, with enforcement including administrative penalties for noncompliance. The law aims to prevent language barriers from blocking healthcare access while protecting patient privacy and decision-making autonomy.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Assembly Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Signed May 30, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Reprint 2
→
As Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
May 30, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was converted from a 'Second Reprint' draft into its final 'As Enrolled' version, making it ready for signature. The core policy content regarding language access requirements for health facilities remains substantively unchanged, but the document now includes the formal title, legislative digest, and official enactment language required for law.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it applies to health facilities and providers of health care in Nevada.
TECHNICAL
Added the formal title of the act and the Legislative Counsel's Digest, which explains the bill's purpose and summarizes its legal effects.
Added the standard opening phrase 'The People of the State of Nevada... Do Enact As Follows' to formally introduce the legal text.
Removed the 'Second Reprint' header, summary, fiscal note, and internal explanation notes that were used only during the drafting and committee review process.
Replaced internal page numbers and draft markers with the official session number (83rd Session) and page numbering.
Floor votes · Assembly May 22, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
6
Committee
2
May 30, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor.
Chapter 172.
executive
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Assembly Amendment No. 560 concurred in. To enrollment.
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 35, Nays: 7.) To Senate.
In Senate.
lower
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 13, Nays: 8.) To printer.
upper
Apr 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
Placed on Second Reading File.
Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 351.)
Reprinting dispensed with.
Placed on General File.
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
FD
Fabian Doñate
DDemocratic
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