SB 221 changes Nevada law to make complaints filed with the Real Estate Division about violations in common-interest communities (like homeowner associations) public records, rather than confidential. This directly affects homeowners who file complaints and the Real Estate Division, which will no longer keep these complaints private. The bill removes all confidentiality protections for complaints, related documents, and investigation materials, requiring them to be publicly accessible. It applies to all such complaints filed under Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 116A, ending the previous exception for keeping these records confidential.
SB 302 allows Nevada county sheriffs to enter written agreements with specific federal agencies, enabling designated federal employees (whose primary role is enforcing federal laws) to enforce state or local laws within the sheriff's jurisdiction. The agreements must last no more than two years, specify which laws apply, identify federal positions covered, and outline revocation conditions. Federal employees covered under these agreements must obtain peace officer certification within six months (instead of the standard one year) and gain full peace officer powers only while performing duties under the agreement. This directly affects sheriffs, federal law enforcement personnel, and local communities where such enforcement occurs.
SB 365 lowers the maximum contingent fee attorneys can charge for most civil cases from 35% to 20% of the net recovery amount after deducting case costs. It applies to attorneys representing plaintiffs in civil actions (excluding medical negligence cases and state agency contracts, which retain their existing caps of 35% and 25%, respectively). The bill defines "recovered" as the net sum after deducting costs like medical expenses or attorney fees, and covers all recovery types including settlements and judgments. This change takes effect for contracts entered on or after October 1, 2025.
SB 151 limits annual rent increases for month-to-month tenants in Nevada manufactured home parks to 60% of the regional Consumer Price Index change plus actual pass-through costs. Landlords must follow this cap unless they apply for an exemption through the Housing Division, providing CPA-certified cost documentation showing operating expenses exceed revenue. The bill requires the Housing Division to annually calculate and publish this rent cap percentage on its website. It directly affects landlords and month-to-month tenants in manufactured home parks, while existing long-term lease terms remain exempt from this restriction.
SB 253 creates two new funds to support charter schools: the Charter School Facilities Account (funded by state general revenue) and the State Public Charter School Facility Fund (funded by local property taxes). It requires the Department of Education to distribute funds to charter schools based on student attendance and meal eligibility ($600 per qualifying student, $300 per other student), with unused funds carried forward annually. The bill also mandates school districts to report on teacher performance evaluations and requires the state to publicly post ranked lists of top-performing schools and teachers. These provisions directly affect charter schools, school districts, and local governments through new funding mechanisms and reporting requirements.
SB 238 increases penalties for hazing that occurs on college or university property in Nevada, raising it from a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor to a category E felony. The bill defines hazing as intentionally or recklessly endangering another person's physical health to join a student group - such as through physical brutality, forced calisthenics, or consumption of substances - and explicitly states that a victim's consent cannot be used as a defense. It applies directly to individuals committing hazing on campus, including fraternity/sorority activities, and excludes school-approved athletic or academic practices. This law aims to strengthen legal consequences for campus hazing incidents while clarifying prohibited conduct.
SB 3 establishes Nevada's Silver State General Assistance Program within the Division of Social Services to provide temporary financial or in-kind help to eligible households facing "extraordinary circumstances" like disruptions in existing public assistance programs (e.g., food stamps or Medicaid). It automatically presumes eligibility for those already enrolled in means-tested programs like SNAP or Medicaid, streamlining applications through joint processing. Funding comes from a new account in the State General Fund, with transfers requiring a minimum fund balance and a Governor-declared emergency. The program mandates annual reporting and strict confidentiality for applicant information, while allowing the Administrator to adopt regulations without standard notice during emergencies.
SB 67 revises Nevada law governing legal defense for state and local government employees, including judges, legislators, contractors, and other public officials. It changes the deadline for requesting defense from 15 days after being served with a lawsuit to 15 days after receiving service (or after a court confirms alternative service), and allows employees to hire their own lawyers at any time - ending the state’s duty to defend once they do, regardless of prior requests. The bill also updates special verdict requirements in civil cases involving the state, revises when the state must cover legal costs (indemnification), and permits indemnification for punitive damages in certain situations. Additionally, it adds new protections for public employers from liability for constitutional rights violations unless the employer was personally involved or had a strong causal connection to the violation.
SB 110 increases prison sentences for individuals convicted of facilitating sex trafficking in Nevada. It raises minimum and maximum prison terms based on the victim's age, with the largest increases for cases involving minors: the minimum sentence for trafficking a child under 14 now rises to 10 years (from 6 years), with a maximum of 20 years. The law applies to people who arrange transportation, provide travel services, or travel to engage in sex with trafficked victims, specifically targeting those who knowingly enable sex trafficking. These changes directly affect convicted facilitators, not the victims or broader public.
SB 148 creates special Nevada license plates for veterans who served on a military unit awarded the Presidential Unit Citation during the action for which the citation was given. The Department of Motor Vehicles must design unique plate styles per military branch based on the unit citation ribbon, allowing eligible veterans to apply for up to two sets for personal vehicles at no extra cost beyond standard fees. Veterans with service-connected disabilities may add the international symbol of access to their plates, granting exemption from state and local parking fees (including meters) and access to handicapped parking spots. The bill also exempts these plates from standard special plate limitations, such as minimum application requirements and design restrictions.
SB 227 creates the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing school psychologists licensed in one participating state to obtain equivalent licenses in other member states without full re-licensing. It directly affects school psychologists seeking to work across state lines and requires member states to adopt standardized requirements, including passing a national exam, completing 1,200 supervised internship hours (600 in schools), and graduating from an approved program. The compact exempts license holders from state-specific exams, continuing education requirements, and certain application documentation for school psychologist roles. Nevada’s bill updates the definition of "school psychologist" to include compact-licensed professionals and establishes procedures for implementing the compact, though it currently requires ratification from seven states (only Colorado and West Virginia have joined).
SB 153 revises Nevada law to treat certain drug-related deaths as murder. If someone illegally sells, gives, or provides a controlled substance that causes another person's death, they are automatically guilty of murder under this law. The bill specifies that fentanyl, its derivatives, or mixtures containing fentanyl result in *first-degree* murder, while all other controlled substances result in *second-degree* murder. This directly affects individuals who distribute drugs leading to fatal overdoses, making the death a legal consequence of the drug sale without needing to prove foreseeability.
