The ball has dropped and the fireworks have flown. It is 2024 and while the calendars change, so too do the laws around the country. Over 80 new laws have hit the books here in Nevada covering a huge gamut.
While the long arm of justice waits for no man, the short, T-Rex-like arms of Carson City decides to make us all wait until the new year to open our gifts.
You name it, and chances are the list of new laws just enacted in Nevada may touch upon it. Everything from tampons to cigarettes, weed to IDs, healthcare and more.
How are new laws made in Nevada?
Trying to get a bill passed and made into law is a process. While we’ve all probably heard the Schoolhouse Rock song about the Bill on Capitol Hill, the state lays out the legislative process in order.
- Draft the bill. Elected officials meet with their constituents to come up with ideas to improve the state.
- Introduce the bill. OK, you’ve got the bill, now it’s time to tell the legislative House all about it and hopefully whip up support.
- The “process”. Once you’ve introduced the bill, it is time for the “system” to get a handle on it. Will a committee think it is ready as is? Will they suggest alterations to the bill? Will they let it die on the vine?
- Introduce the bill…again. It’s time for the second reading. This is the tweaked version of the initial bill.
- Debate. Read the bill again, then everyone talks about it. If everyone likes it… it passes! Hooray!
- Introduce the bill in the second house. Wait, again? Yeah. There is a first House and second House.
- Rinse and Repeat. Same “process” with the committee. Same debate and vote. Does it pass? Awesome! Hooray!
- Concurrence. WAIT WHAT? Yeah. First House and second House may have passed slightly (or considerably) different versions of the bill. Now it is time to hash out the differences and get everyone to agree. If they don’t, it is back to the drawing board. If they do… then Hooray! Except for one last step…
- The Governor. Once it passes, it lands on the Governor’s desk who must either sign the bill, let it pass without their signature, or veto the bill and send it back down. Then it is up to the first House to potentially “Uno Reverse” that bill with a two-thirds majority. If they can do that, the Governor’s veto is overruled.
Now that we know how the sausage is made, here’s a look at some of the juiciest changes to Nevada law in the new year.
SB330: Your Breast Cancer Screening Will Be Covered 100%
This seems like such a no brainer, and now it will be. Senate Bill 330 went into effect at midnight on January 1st. Now health insurance policies in the state will be required to provide coverage for breast cancer screening with no co-pays, deductibles or anything like that. Early detection is key, and there is no longer a financial burden to get that exam.
AB53: It'll Cost You A Lot More To Sell Cigarettes To Underage Smokers
Underage smoking has thankfully dropped pretty significantly in the last couple decades. The legal age rose from 18 to 21, but some stores were a little lax with their sale. With a written warning for the first two offenses and a $500 fine or every violation afterwards, there wasn’t a huge financial impact for breaking the rules.
That’s changing.
Now you’ll get fined $2500 for the very first violation. That doubles to $5000 for the second violation, and $7500 for the third. More than that? $10,000 each time you go over three violations within a two year period. Is it way pricier? Yes. Will it probably stop stores from being lax on their sales? Also, yes.
SB277: You Can Now Have Way More Weed
Grab a ton of packs of beer for your Super Bowl party and no one will bat a lash. Cannabis is treated a lot differently, and with this new law it’ll become a little more lax. Senate Bill 277 allows people to buy and have 2.5 ounces of the smelly green stuff. It used to be 1 ounce, so it is a considerable increase. Concentrate limits also doubled from 1/8th to 1/4th. Break out the lava lamps.
SB422: Your Food Delivery Robot Can't Be Porky And Fast
Why get off your keister and get your food when a helpful food delivery robot can bring the food to you. Senate Bill 422 makes it clear what these robots can do, how fast they can go and how much they can weigh. The “personal delivery device” can be up to 150 pounds and can travel as fast as 10 miles an hour. While it is allowed to drive on the sidewalk, it can’t “unreasonably interfere with pedestrians or vehicle traffic” so feel free to box out the robot for fun.
SB307 & AB286: Solitary Confinement Isn't Forever... And They Can Vote
Jails and prisons get a little love in the bill.
AB286 will require the state to allow jailed offenders to register to vote, and actually vote, while behind bars.
SB307 covers the bad boys and girls who might find themselves in solitary confinement. Prisoners can’t be in there for more than 15 days, and they can’t be in there if they are set to be released in a few months (or less). Plus, prisoners with major mental health issues are not permitted to be put in solitary unless a health care professional says it is necessary.
AB161: Your ID And Car Registration Will Let People Know You Have Communication Needs
Sometimes there are complications at traffic stops that can cause significant issues. Now those with communication issues (like the deaf, mute, etc) can opt in to having a special label on their driver’s license that will very officially tell an officer that you won’t be able to communicate as easily as others. Simple and helpful.
AB289: Your Dead Uncle Can Become A Tree
What are you going to do when you die? Get buried? Maybe you’ll be cremated? Well you can officially add a third option: human composting. This is the process of turning your body into soil. From that you could quite literally use your body to grow plants, trees and the like. Nevada is the 8th state to legalize it and it sounds pretty interesting.
