SB 346 Nevada Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Makes various changes relating to guardianship. (BDR 13-217)

SB 346 updates Nevada's guardianship laws to better support adults with disabilities by strengthening the use of supported decision-making agreements (SDMAs). It defines SDMAs for legal purposes, expands the definition of "incapacitated" to include people unable to understand SDMAs, and requires courts to consider SDMAs before appointing guardians. The bill mandates that guardianship petitions include proof of SDMA education for the proposed protected person and that physicians assess whether someone understands SDMAs. It also requires guardian reports to explain why SDMAs aren't used and allows guardianship termination if a protected person enters an SDMA.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Assembly Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Signed Jun 5, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Reprint 2 → As Enrolled · 6 edits · Jun 5, 2025

MODERATE

This bill transitions from a draft proposal to an enacted law, officially adding new requirements to Nevada's guardianship system. The changes mandate that courts and physicians explicitly consider 'less restrictive alternatives' (like powers of attorney) before appointing a guardian. Additionally, the law now requires that individuals seeking to transfer a guardianship order from another state must prove these alternatives were considered.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a proposed amendment to a finalized statute, making the new requirements legally binding effective immediately upon enrollment.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory requirement for physicians assessing guardianship needs to determine if less restrictive alternatives are available and sufficient.

Added a requirement for guardianship petitions to include an attestation that the proposed protected person was informed about less restrictive alternatives.

Added a requirement for guardian reports to explain why less restrictive alternatives are not being used.

Added new criteria for transferring out-of-state guardianship orders, requiring proof that less restrictive alternatives were considered.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'less restrictive alternatives to guardianship' including durable powers of attorney and supported decision-making agreements.

ENFORCEMENT

Added the right for protected persons to be educated about less restrictive alternatives as part of their legal rights.

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

How they voted

20–0

Passed

Total votes 20

Apr 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 5, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor.

executive

May 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Assembly Amendment No. 654 concurred in. To enrollment.

upper

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

From printer. To reengrossment. Reengrossed. Second reprint. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate. In Senate.

upper

May 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 654.) To printer.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To printer.

upper

Apr 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 144.) Reprinting dispensed with.

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

From printer. To committee.

upper

3 primary · 6 co-sponsors