Rachel Dahl
Gov. Joe Lombardo signed all 13 bills sent to his desk following the 2025 Special Legislative Session, approving a slate of measures that touch nearly every corner of state government — from public safety and cybersecurity to healthcare access, school zone design, and emergency aid systems.
The governor called lawmakers back to Carson City on Nov. 13 to address what he described as urgent statewide needs that could not wait until the 2027 regular session.
“The voters of Nevada elected all of us to get things done,” Lombardo said. “Nevadans deserve a government that acts quickly when their safety, opportunity, and well-being are on the line.”
The legislation was passed with bipartisan support, though some provisions drew opposition during hearings. A separate proposal to expand Nevada’s film tax credit program failed in the Senate and never reached the governor’s desk.
Assembly Bill 4, the most extensive measure of the session, updates a wide range of Nevada’s criminal statutes. The law strengthens penalties for assault, battery, domestic violence, stalking, child pornography, theft, and property damage.
The measure also establishes expedited court processes for offenses on the Las Vegas Strip, revises DUI and pretrial-release laws, and makes several changes to juvenile justice procedures.
Lombardo called the package “historic public safety reforms” that would “restore safety and security in our communities.”
Assembly Bill 1 responds to recent high-profile cybersecurity breaches that disrupted state services and creates s a centralized statewide Security Operations Center under the Office of the Chief Information Officer. AB1 also establishes a talent-training pipeline and allows school districts to participate in state cybersecurity and defense programs.
Assembly Bill 6 gives local governments more authority over school-zone design and increases penalties for violations near schools. The measure follows several high-profile pedestrian crashes involving students this year.
Senate Bill 3 establishes the Silver State General Assistance Program — a contingency system intended to help residents if federal support programs such as SNAP or Medicaid are disrupted by a federal shutdown. The law creates a coordinated application process and modernizes emergency aid procedures statewide.
Senate Bill 5 creates a Statewide Health Care Access and Recruitment Program aimed at addressing Nevada’s long-running shortage of physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers, and specialty clinicians.
The bill calls for a statewide needs assessment, competitive grants to expand clinical services, and new oversight provisions to evaluate program effectiveness.
The governor also approved:
- AB 2 – Modernizes alcohol beverage licensing and record-keeping.
- AB 3 – Expands security and privacy protections for public officers, allowing campaign funds to be used for official-capacity security needs.
- SB 1 – Requires verification of insurance coverage before rental car companies release vehicles.
- SB 2 – Technical updates to legislative operations.
- SB 4 – Appropriations for higher education construction, indigent defense compliance, jail-based behavioral health programs, emergency fund replenishment, and Medicaid enrollment initiatives.
- SB 6 – Completed funding for relocation of families in North Las Vegas’ Windsor Park neighborhood.
- SB 7 – A temporary fix addressing workers’ compensation coverage issues for first responders; additional work is expected next session.
- SB 8 – Aligns Nevada wage and hour standards with federal labor law.
Film Tax Credit Expansion Fails
One of the most debated proposals of the special session, an expansion of film tax credits, did not pass. The bill, which would have provided up to $120 million annually in incentives, fell one vote short in the Senate and was not transmitted to the governor. Critics from multiple political perspectives called the proposal too costly.
Ceremonial bill-signing events are expected in the coming weeks, according to the governor’s office. Lombardo praised lawmakers for what he described as “meaningful, responsible reforms that will make Nevada stronger and safer for years to come.”
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