AB 26 revises Nevada's dam regulations to streamline the approval process for construction, reconstruction, and alteration of dams. It replaces the requirement for a water appropriation permit with a pre-construction approval system from the State Engineer, while removing the need to submit plans in triplicate and requiring plans only for high-hazard dams or those over 20 feet tall/impounding more than 20 acre-feet of water. The bill also exempts federal projects managed by the Bureau of Reclamation or Army Corps of Engineers from certain state requirements and shields the State Engineer and assistants from liability for damages caused by dam failures during inspections or emergency responses. These changes directly affect private dam developers, landowners, and federal agencies operating dams in Nevada.
AB 86 eliminates the requirement for timber owners or their agents to obtain a logging permit before conducting "cutting operations" (such as selective tree removal), while retaining the permit requirement for full "logging" activities. This change directly affects timber owners, forest managers, and logging contractors who previously needed permits for certain tree-cutting activities. The bill amends Nevada Revised Statute 528.042 by removing the phrase "or cutting" from the permit requirement, streamlining the process for specific forestry work. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, with no impact on local governments but a fiscal effect on the state.
AB 177 updates licensing and practice rules for audiology, hearing aid specialists, and speech-language pathology professionals in Nevada. It creates a new license for "speech-language pathology assistants" who must work under supervision, eliminates the requirement for audiologists to get an endorsement to fit hearing aids, and expands hearing aid specialists' scope to include tinnitus care and earwax removal. The bill also removes an exemption for educators with Department of Education credentials, requiring them to obtain Board licensure instead. These changes directly affect licensed professionals, students, and assistants in these healthcare fields.
SB 315 authorizes Nevada's Department of Transportation (DOT) to use a "progressive design-build" contracting method for improvements to Interstate 80 East between Vista Boulevard in Sparks and USA Parkway (State Route 439) in Storey County. This allows the DOT to first contract for preconstruction services (like design and cost estimation), then later negotiate final construction contracts with the same team if design progress meets cost and timeline requirements. The bill requires the DOT to advertise solicitations online, use specified one-step or two-step procurement processes for bids, and permits negotiation for preconstruction services before final construction. It directly affects the DOT, potential contractors bidding on this highway project, and the public using the I-80 East corridor.
AB 20 allows Nevada's Department of Motor Vehicles to adopt individualized symbols or codes for specific medical conditions on driver's licenses and identification cards, in addition to the single symbol previously required. The bill specifies qualifying conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, and mental health conditions, and mandates that the DMV maintain medical records using standardized ICD codes. It also updates vehicle insurance verification procedures, requiring electronic notifications for owners who have opted to receive DMV communications electronically. These changes provide more detailed medical information on licenses and modernize DMV communication processes.
SB 4 is a budget appropriations bill (not related to adoption consent as its title suggests), allocating over $50 million in state funds for specific programs. It provides: $15.6 million for jail-based behavioral health programs in Clark and Washoe counties, $3 million for public defender stipends tied to a court case, $1.95 million to support education recommendations, and smaller sums for university lab equipment, SNAP program administration, and health plan broker fees. All funds must be spent by specified deadlines (June 30, 2027, with balances reverting to the state fund by September 17, 2027), and unused portions cannot be carried forward. The bill directly affects state agencies (like Corrections, Human Services, and Education), counties (Clark and Washoe), and specific programs, with no policy changes beyond funding allocations.
AB 70 requires Nevada's Energy Director to provide county commissioners a formal opportunity to submit written comments on tax break applications from renewable energy facilities, and to consider those comments when deciding whether to approve or deny the requests. This directly affects renewable energy projects seeking partial tax abatements (covering sales/use and property taxes) and county governments that can now formally influence these decisions. The bill updates existing law by adding this comment requirement to the application process without creating new state or local government costs, as noted in the fiscal analysis.
AB 521 requires certain medical facilities and intermediary service organizations in Nevada to obtain written authorization from employees and applicants to check the Statewide Central Registry for confirmed child abuse or neglect reports within the past five years. If a substantiated report exists, the facility must terminate the individual's employment. Organizations that fail to terminate such employees or continue employing them after a substantiated report may lose their operating certificate. This bill directly affects healthcare facilities, residential care providers, and their staff who interact with children.
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.
SB 13 (Revises provisions relating to the disposition of bail) changes how courts handle returned bail money. It replaces the existing rule requiring automatic bail exoneration (returning funds) when charges are dismissed or not filed, with a new rule allowing courts to dispose of bail based on agreement between all parties involved. This directly affects defendants released on bail, courts, and bail bond providers by shifting from a mandatory process to a negotiated one. The key provision eliminates the requirement for courts to exonerate bail automatically, instead permitting parties to reach mutual agreements on bail disposition. The bill became law on May 26, 2025.
AB 50 allows counties to create electronic databases to coordinate victim reunification, identification, and long-term support services after mass casualty incidents. Hospitals in affected counties must report victim information to these databases while protecting privacy, including asking victims if they consent to keeping their data for ongoing support. All data must be automatically deleted after victims are identified and reunited, unless the victim provides written consent to retain it. The law also grants immunity to counties and hospitals for good-faith use of the system, ensuring no civil liability for proper implementation.
SB 66 revises Nevada law for filing postconviction petitions challenging the time an offender has served. It requires such petitions to be filed with the district court in the county where the petitioner is currently incarcerated (if in-state), where they reside (if released but in-state), or the Carson City court (if outside Nevada). The bill also prohibits petitions from simultaneously challenging both the validity of a conviction and the time served. These changes apply to petitions filed on or after the law's effective date, streamlining the filing process for affected individuals.
