LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Lawmakers are busy in Carson City drawing up new rules to live by, including tougher penalties for committing crimes, protections for transgender Nevadans and a variety of laws related to housing and renters' rights.
So far, 484 sponsored bills have been introduced in the 83rd Legislative Session, and there will be more as the session continues. Here's a look at some of the proposed laws*:
* -- Bills in the Nevada Assembly are labeled "AB" at the front and Nevada Senate bills are labeled "SB." All bills must be approved by both houses and signed by the governor before they become law.
PARAMILITARY ACTIVITY: AB119 would outlaw "paramilitary activity" involving three or more people, setting out definitions for what those activities are and authorizing the attorney general to investigate and seek court injunctions to stop it from happening. A "private paramilitary organization" is defined in the bill as an organized body consisting of three or more persons who associate under a structure of command for the purpose of functioning or training to function in a public place as a unit of combat, combat support, law enforcement or security services. The bill also establishes rights for victims of paramilitary activity to file civil lawsuits. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager.
POLITICAL THREATS: AB123 takes on the issue of threats made during election campaigns, outlawing making statements that threaten someone's life. A first offense would be punished as a misdemeanor, and subsequent violations would be considered gross misdemeanors. The bill is sponsored by Assemblymember Hanadi Nadeem (D-Las Vegas).
VOTER ID: AB147 sets up requirements for showing identification when voting, an idea that has wide support among Nevadans according to recent polls. (It's also the focus of Question 7, which is up for final approval in the next general election and would amend the Nevada Constitution.) The new bill would require the Nevada DMV to offer a free ID card to a registered voter who doesn't have one of the acceptable forms of ID and attests that he or she is experiencing financial hardship. It also specifies that voting the mail ballot of another person is a category D felony. Republican Gregory Hafen, the minority leader in the Nevada Assembly, sponsored the new bill.
CCSD BOARD OF TRUSTEES: AB195 gives board members equal power, whether they are elected or appointed. Last session, lawmakers created four appointed positions to the Clark County School District Board of Trustees. The board responded by making sure the appointed members had little power. The new bill makes them equal and gives appointed members the right to serve as officers of the board. It also sets 12-year term limits for members that serve "for any school district or combination of school districts." The bill is sponsored by Republican Assemblymember Toby Yurek, who represents northeast Clark County.
DONOR PRIVACY: AB197 requires the Secretary of State and other government entities from divulging information about donors or members/volunteers who work for nonprofits. It would prohibit agencies from requesting personal information about donors and people who work with nonprofits. It could also protect information about political action committees that fund election campaigns. The bill is sponsored by Assemblymember Shea Backus (D-Las Vegas).
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: AB216 would require police to conduct a "lethality assessment" in domestic violence investigations, and would empower courts to consider such reports when making custody decisions. The step could possibly head off dangerous situations for victims of domestic violence. The bill is sponsored by Assemblymember Melissa Hardy (R-Henderson).
FENTANYL PENALTIES: SB153 would elevate the penalty for selling, giving or trading a deadly fentanyl dose, taking it up to first-degree murder. The penalty would remain second-degree murder for deaths involving other controlled substances. See: Nevada proposal would add selling deadly fentanyl to first-degree murder charge. The bill is sponsored by Republican Senator John Steinbeck, who represents the northwest Las Vegas valley.
BAIL REVOKED: SB163 would automatically revoke bail for anyone who is arrested on a felony charge while out on bail. The person would remain in jail until trial. The bill is sponsored by Republican Senator John Ellison, who represents roughly half the state, covering rural counties in eastern Nevada.
TRANSGENDER "SHIELD": SB171 would set up for protections for transgender patients and medical practitioners, preventing the state from participating in another state's prosecution. It's similar to existing laws that set up legal protections surrounding abortion procedures in Nevada. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Senator James Ohrenschall, who represents parts of southeast Las Vegas and parts of Henderson.
LATEX GLOVES: SB184 seeks an end to the use of latex gloves or utensils in a food establishment. Allergies to latex became a serious problem in the late 1980s. The bill sets up penalties, allowing health officials to suspend permits, and even revoke permits for repeated offenses. It makes use of latex gloves or utensils a misdemeanor under Nevada law, and would extend the restriction to medical facilities. The bill is sponsored by Republican Senator Jeff Stone, who represents eastern and southern Clark County. "Latex alternative gloves are available and inexpensive. Up to 5% of the general population has a latex allergy," Stone told 8 News Now on Wednesday. "Rarely, one can experience anaphylaxis which can be life threatening. Why take a chance when we have low cost safer alternatives?"
Housing/renter legislation
Several bills focus on issues surrounding housing and protections designed for renters. Some of those bills are highlighted below:
ACCESSORY DWELLINGS: AB131 would allow owners of designated historic properties an exception that would allow them to build an "accessory dwelling" on the property. Restrictions against using the addition as a rental unit are written into the bill. It also seeks an expedited approval/appeal process. The bill is sponsored by Assemblymember Jovan Jackson, who represents areas including the Historic Westside in Las Vegas.
KEEPING UP WITH REPAIRS: AB211 gets tough with landlords who neglect the properties their tenants live in. It sets up procedures relating to "a property owner's failure to repair or rehabilitate or abate certain conditions on the residential property," and gives local governments the authority to appoint a receiver for substandard property. The bill is sponsored by Assemblymember Venicia Considine, who represents parts of Henderson and southeast Las Vegas.
RENTERS' RIGHTS: AB223 establishes sweeping powers for renters when a landlord fails to provide a dwelling in good condition. It would establish a verified complaint procedure when concerning habitable conditions. The bill requires landlords to list fees charged to tenants, and also requires that landlords provide an email address for tenants to contact staff. It requires landlords to provide waste removal at no charge to tenants. The bill also requires landlords to accept the following methods of payment for rent: money order, personal check, cashier's check or cash. That's likely in reaction to post-pandemic practices that have pushed tenants to sign up for third-party payment services that charge additional fees. Much more is included in the bill. Assemblymember Considine also sponsored this bill.
DOG BREEDS: SB166 would expand the law preventing insurance companies from jacking up premiums or canceling a policy on the sole basis of a dog breed on the property. The law currently only applies to single-family residences but would be expanded to apartments, condos and other multi-family residences. The bill also requires some supportive housing landlords to allow at least one pet. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Senator Melanie Scheible, who represents parts of the southwest Las Vegas valley.