AB 381 Nevada Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Revises provisions related to animals. (BDR 50-793)

AB 381 updates Nevada's animal cruelty laws to better address neglect and abuse. It revises definitions to include passive inaction (like failing to stop abuse when aware) as cruelty, and removes the exception that previously exempted agricultural land from cruelty investigations. The bill increases penalties for cruelty, raising police animal assault to a category B felony if the animal is disabled or killed, and changes procedures for impounded animals during arrests by requiring forfeiture to local governments instead of auction. These changes directly affect animal owners, law enforcement, courts, and shelters handling cruelty cases.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Assembly Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 10, 2025 Signed Jun 9, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Reprint 2 → As Enrolled · 6 edits · Jun 9, 2025

MODERATE

This bill significantly strengthens animal cruelty laws by increasing criminal penalties, removing exemptions for agricultural land, and expanding protections against abandonment. It also updates procedures for seizing animals from arrested individuals and clarifies rules regarding pets in vehicles.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of animal cruelty penalties to include Category B felonies for acts causing death or intimidation, and removes the exception that previously excluded animals on agricultural land from seizure laws.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased penalties for animal cruelty to Category B felonies when the act causes death or is committed to threaten/terrorize others, with mandatory minimum prison sentences.

Increased penalties for cruelty to police animals to Category B felonies when the animal is killed or totally disabled.

SCOPE

Removed the exception allowing animals on agricultural land to be exempt from seizure and disposition laws when treated cruelly.

REQUIREMENT

Extended the deadline for owners to request a hearing regarding impounded animals from 5 days to 7 calendar days.

Eliminated the specific legal provision requiring the sale of seized animals at auction, leaving disposal entirely to local government discretion.

Added a requirement for juvenile courts to order psychological evaluations for children adjudicated delinquent for animal cruelty.

Floor votes · Assembly May 16, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 9, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 424.

executive

Jun 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 14, Nays: 7.) To Assembly. In Assembly. Senate Amendment No. 963 concurred in. To enrollment.

upper

Jun 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 963.) To printer. From printer. To re-engrossment. Re-engrossed. Second reprint.

upper

May 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate.

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. To committee.

lower

5 primary · 9 co-sponsors