AB 177 Nevada Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Makes various changes relating to audiology, fitting and dispensing hearing aids and speech-language pathology. (BDR 54-199)

AB 177 updates licensing and practice rules for audiology, hearing aid specialists, and speech-language pathology professionals in Nevada. It creates a new license for "speech-language pathology assistants" who must work under supervision, eliminates the requirement for audiologists to get an endorsement to fit hearing aids, and expands hearing aid specialists' scope to include tinnitus care and earwax removal. The bill also removes an exemption for educators with Department of Education credentials, requiring them to obtain Board licensure instead. These changes directly affect licensed professionals, students, and assistants in these healthcare fields.
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Assembly Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 2, 2025 Signed May 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Reprint 1 As Enrolled · 9 edits · May 28, 2025
MAJOR
This bill updates the licensure and practice rules for speech-language pathology and audiology in Nevada. It introduces a new license for speech-language pathology assistants, expands the scope of practice for audiologists to include fitting hearing aids without extra endorsements, and adjusts fee structures to offer discounts for military families. The changes aim to modernize professional standards, improve access to care, and clarify regulations for school-based practitioners.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of practice for speech-language pathologists to include stroboscopy and removes the requirement for audiologists to obtain a separate endorsement to fit and dispense hearing aids. It also extends regulatory oversight to speech-language pathology assistants and modifies exemptions for educators holding specific credentials.
ELIGIBILITY

Creates a new licensure pathway and regulatory framework for speech-language pathology assistants.

Revises exemptions for educators, limiting the practice exemption to those holding specific Department of Education credentials by September 30, 2026.

Allows applicants for certain out-of-state licenses to satisfy requirements by holding a license from the District of Columbia or any U.S. state or territory.

SCOPE

Expands the defined scope of practice for speech-language pathologists to include the use of stroboscopy for diagnosis and treatment.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminates the requirement for audiologists to obtain a separate endorsement to engage in the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids.

Repeals the authority to issue provisional military licenses, making expedited endorsement procedures applicable to all applicants.

Requires that speech-language pathology assistants employed in schools under collective bargaining agreements be classified the same as licensed speech-language pathologists.

FISCAL

Increases maximum fees for certain licenses while authorizing fee waivers and requiring discounted fees for active military members, veterans, and their families.

TIMELINE

Establishes a September 30, 2026 deadline for educators to hold specific credentials to maintain licensure exemptions.

Floor votes · Assembly Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

382
Passed
Total votes 40
Apr 22, 2025
D Democratic26
26 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican14
12 Yea 2 Nay
85% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
6
Committee
2
May 28, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor. Chapter 76.
executive
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
In Assembly. To enrollment.
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 19, Nays: 2.) To Assembly.
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass.
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 40, Nays: 2.) To printer.
lower
Apr 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 155.) Dispensed with reprinting.
lower
Feb 2, 2025
Introduced
Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. To printer.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors