Nevada Enacts New Laws: Housing, Schools, Mental Health, and Broadband Among Changes
More than two dozen new Nevada laws take effect July 1. The highlights include changes to housing, education, mental health services, and infrastructure.
Housing Expansion
AB396 eases restrictions on accessory dwelling units such as backyard cottages or converted garages in Clark and Washoe counties. The law sets statewide standards limiting how local governments and homeowners associations can block these units, aiming to increase housing supply amid ongoing shortages.
Schools and Education
SB444 requires school districts to implement stricter policies limiting student cellphone and electronic device use during instructional time, complete with progressive discipline systems. Exceptions remain for emergencies, approved educational use, and students with disabilities.
AB533 expands public school choice by allowing students to transfer to schools outside their assigned attendance zone when space is available, with a potential state grant program to assist with transportation.
AB49 fast-tracks licensing for out-of-state teachers and creates additional pathways for educators in high-need areas.
Mental and Behavioral Health
New regulations under AB514 establish oversight for residential mental health treatment facilities, including licensing, training, and financial safeguards for patients. Separately, SB165 creates a new category of behavioral health and wellness practitioners focused on prevention and early intervention, backed by nearly $7 million in workforce development funding and potential Medicaid coverage.
Infrastructure and Environment
AB509 requires broadband providers to negotiate agreements with local governments before installing infrastructure in public rights-of-way, while AB96 mandates heat mitigation strategies in long-term planning for Clark and Washoe counties to combat extreme temperatures.
These laws reflect ongoing legislative priorities around housing affordability, student focus in classrooms, expanding access to behavioral health services, and preparing for climate impacts.
Last summer, a collection of new laws took effect. Read on below:
July 1, 2025: Nevada Welcomes 10 New Laws from 2025 Session, Impacting Safety, Schools, and More
Over the summer, ten noteworthy laws from Nevada’s 83rd legislative session took effect, impacting areas like public safety, education, transportation, and more. Here’s an overview.
School Bully Transfers (AB48): Permits school boards to transfer students who bully or discriminate to another school, ensuring victims and perpetrators are not placed together.
School Bus Cameras (AB527): Allows school districts to install cameras on buses to enforce stops, with detected movement not counting as a traffic violation.
Nevada State University License Plate (SB181): Authorizes a special license plate for Nevada State University, with funds supporting its athletic department and foundation.
Student-Athlete Contracts (SB293): Enables state universities to enter name, image, and likeness (NIL) contracts with student-athletes, exempt from public records.
AI Counseling Limits (AB406): Prohibits AI from replacing counselors or psychologists in public schools and requires an AI use policy.
Coroner Reports in Fatal Crashes (AB55): Expands coroner testing for substances in fatal crash victims’ blood and makes findings public record upon receipt.
Public Records Task Force (AB128): Creates a task force to review Nevada’s public records system, reporting findings by 2027.
Digital License Plates (AB296): Allows the DMV to implement digital license plates through a vendor, though not yet available.
Religious Displays (SB201): Protects the display of religious or cultural items (e.g., mezuzahs) on doors/windows, with size restrictions.
Firearm Confiscation (SB347): Allows law enforcement to temporarily seize firearms during mental health crisis holds, with procedures for return unless prohibited by law.
To access a complete list of Nevada legislation from the 83rd Legislative Session (2025) that took effect over the summer, visit the Nevada Legislature’s official website at www.leg.state.nv.us. From there, go to the “Bills and Resolutions” section, select the 83rd (2025) Session, and use the “Bill Information” or “Bill Text Search” tools to filter for enrolled (passed) bills. Each bill’s text or summary includes its effective date.
