Nearly 200 new laws are taking effect following the conclusion of the 83rd legislative session in Carson City, with many tied to fiscal year appropriations starting July 1. Here are some notable changes:
- Firearms Confiscation During Mental Health Crisis: Senate Bill 347 allows law enforcement to temporarily confiscate firearms from individuals under a mental health crisis hold. Officers must provide a receipt and details on retrieving the firearm, which can be returned post-treatment unless a protection order is filed or ownership is prohibited.
- School Bully Transfers: Assembly Bill 48 empowers school boards to transfer students involved in bullying or discrimination to another district school, after consulting parents or guardians. Both victim and perpetrator should not be sent to the same new school.
- Coroner Reports in Fatal Crashes: AB 55 permits coroners to test for commonly misused substances in a decedent’s blood following a fatal crash, and makes findings a public record upon receipt, removing the previous 30-day publication requirement.
- NIL Contracts for Student-Athletes: SB 293 allows state universities to enter into name, image, and likeness contracts with student-athletes, exempting these from public record, opening avenues for revenue sharing.
- Cameras on School Buses: AB 527 enables the installation of cameras on district-owned school buses for enforcing bus stop laws, though detections are not deemed traffic violations.
- Nevada State University License Plate: SB 181 facilitates issuing a special license plate for Nevada State University, with funds supporting the university’s athletic department and foundation.
- AI Counseling Limits: AB 406 prohibits replacing counselors or psychologists with AI in public schools, mandating the Nevada Department of Education to develop a related policy.
- Religious Displays: SB 201 protects the display of religious or cultural items on doors and windows from being prohibited by landlords or homeowners associations, with size restrictions.
- Public Records Task Force: AB 128 establishes a task force to review Nevada’s public records system, with findings due in the 2027 legislative session.
- Digital License Plates: AB 296 sets the stage for the DMV to implement digital license plates through vendor contracts, though this service is not yet available.
These laws reflect a range of policy changes impacting various sectors throughout Nevada.
