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AB 26 Nevada Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Revises provisions relating to dams. (BDR 48-261)

AB 26 revises Nevada's dam regulations to streamline the approval process for construction, reconstruction, and alteration of dams. It replaces the requirement for a water appropriation permit with a pre-construction approval system from the State Engineer, while removing the need to submit plans in triplicate and requiring plans only for high-hazard dams or those over 20 feet tall/impounding more than 20 acre-feet of water. The bill also exempts federal projects managed by the Bureau of Reclamation or Army Corps of Engineers from certain state requirements and shields the State Engineer and assistants from liability for damages caused by dam failures during inspections or emergency responses. These changes directly affect private dam developers, landowners, and federal agencies operating dams in Nevada.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
May 2025
Assembly Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Nov 12, 2024 Signed May 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Reprint 1 → As Enrolled · 6 edits · May 28, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates the rules for building and managing dams in Nevada by removing the requirement to obtain a water permit before starting construction, replacing it with a need for State Engineer approval. It also expands the State Engineer's authority to enter adjacent land for dam access and clarifies that federal projects are exempt from certain dam regulations. Additionally, the bill modifies liability protections for the State Engineer and changes how notices are served for removing unauthorized dams or beavers.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of dam regulations to include reconstruction and alteration, and broadens the State Engineer's access rights to include adjacent parcels necessary for dam inspection or removal.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement to obtain a water permit before constructing a dam; replaced with a requirement to obtain State Engineer approval.

Reduced the number of copies required for dam plans and specifications from three to one.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption for works under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from certain dam requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded the State Engineer's authority to enter adjacent parcels of land to access a dam or obstruction.

Changed the notice requirement for removing unauthorized dams or beavers from requiring 'service' of notice to merely providing a written copy.

DEFINITION

Updated the Legislative Counsel's Digest to reflect that reconstruction and alteration of dams now require State Engineer approval instead of a permit.

Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2025 · Assembly Apr 15, 2025

How they voted

20–0
Passed
Total votes 20
May 21, 2025
D Democratic12
12 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican8
8 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
6
Committee
2
May 28, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor. Chapter 64.
executive
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
In Assembly. To enrollment.
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly.
lower
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass.
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate. In Senate.
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
lower
Nov 12, 2024
Introduced
Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources. To printer.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.