AB 246 Nevada Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Revises provisions relating to offenders. (BDR 16-686)

AB 246 requires Nevada’s Department of Corrections to establish voluntary vocational farm programs in state facilities where funding allows, focusing on sustainable agriculture, fair labor standards, and therapeutic education. It also allows the department to hire outside registered dietitians (not tied to food vendors) to improve inmate nutrition, with new regulations adopted per state procedures. The bill mandates a 2025-2026 study on food services in correctional facilities, requiring public publication of results and limiting food service contract renewals to two years during the study. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals through improved meal programs and vocational opportunities, while placing new requirements on the Department of Corrections.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → Reprint 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten to shift focus from strict dietary regulations and banning for-profit vendors to establishing vocational farm programs and hiring outside dietitians. The new version adds requirements for voluntary farm participation, sustainable practices, and food donations, while removing previous mandates about the Good Food Purchasing Program and profit vendor bans.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily regulating food quality and vendor contracts to including vocational farm programs and external dietitian oversight, with new requirements for study and contract renewal limits during the 2025-2026 interim.

SCOPE

Removed requirements to adopt the Good Food Purchasing Program and prohibit contracts with for-profit food vendors.

REQUIREMENT

Added new section requiring the Department to establish vocational farm programs where practical, with voluntary participation and sustainable agricultural practices.

Added authority for the Department to contract with or accept volunteer services from registered dietitians not employed by the Department or affiliated with food vendors.

Added a limit that food service contract renewals during the study period cannot exceed 2 years.

Removed the requirement that a licensed or registered dietitian must approve each meal or menu item provided to offenders.

TIMELINE

Added requirements to issue a request for information and conduct a comprehensive 1-year study on food services during the 2025-2026 interim.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. To committee.

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 524.) Taken from General File. Rereferred to Committee on Ways and Means. Exemption effective. To printer.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. To committee.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors