SB 257 Nevada Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Revises provisions relating to autism. (BDR 38-106)

SB 257 updates Nevada's autism healthcare regulations to improve access to diagnosis and treatment. It removes specific requirements for autism assessments, replacing them with a flexible standard that allows any healthcare provider within their scope of practice to conduct direct observation and assessment for diagnosis. The bill also changes insurance coverage rules: insurers must cover autism diagnosis and treatment performed by any qualified provider (not limited to physicians or psychologists) and must accept any diagnosis meeting the new statewide standard. This affects individuals with autism spectrum disorders, healthcare providers, and insurers by streamlining access to care.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Assembly Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Signed Jun 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → As Enrolled · 5 edits · Jun 6, 2025

MODERATE

This bill modifies Nevada's autism-related regulations to broaden who can diagnose and treat autism spectrum disorders. It removes requirements that only licensed physicians, psychologists, or behavior analysts can provide these services, allowing any healthcare provider acting within their scope of practice to do so. This change aims to increase access to care and flexibility in service delivery.

Scope change

Expanded eligibility for providers to diagnose and treat autism spectrum disorders from specific licensed professionals to any healthcare provider acting within their scope of practice.

REQUIREMENT

Removed requirement that autism diagnoses must be rendered by licensed physicians or psychologists; now allows any healthcare provider within their scope of practice to diagnose.

Removed requirement that treatment plans for autism must be developed by licensed physicians or psychologists; now allows any healthcare provider within their scope of practice to develop treatment plans.

Removed requirement that autism treatment must be provided by or under supervision of licensed physicians, psychologists, or behavior analysts; now allows any healthcare provider within their scope of practice to provide treatment.

Modified statewide standard requirements for autism assessment to require direct observation and assessment rather than specific protocols, standardized instruments, and evaluations measuring specific behaviors.

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'provider of health care' by referencing NRS 629.031 to establish who qualifies under the new broader requirements.

Floor votes · Senate May 22, 2025 · Assembly May 31, 2025

How they voted

20–0

Passed

Total votes 20

May 22, 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

Key actions

Committee

Jun 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 387.

executive

Jun 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

To enrollment.

upper

May 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 39, Nays: None, Excused: 3.) To Senate.

lower

May 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time.

lower

May 22, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (20-0)

senate

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass. Placed on General File. Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly.

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass. Placed on Second Reading File. Notice of eligibility for exemption. Read second time. Taken from General File. Re-referred to Committee on Finance. Exemption effective. To committee.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

From printer. To committee.

upper

4 primary · 5 co-sponsors