SB 324 Nevada Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Establishes prohibitions relating to the sale of water in certain disposable plastic bottles in communities abutting the Lake Tahoe Watershed. (BDR 40-216)

SB 324 prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution of water in disposable plastic bottles holding 4 liters or less within any community bordering the Lake Tahoe Watershed. The bill requires the Attorney General to enforce this ban and inspect properties for compliance, overriding some existing environmental agency powers. Violating the ban is classified as a misdemeanor. This directly affects local retailers, convenience stores, and vendors selling bottled water in the specified communities near Lake Tahoe.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Last action May 17, 2025

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What changed between versions

As Introduced → Reprint 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to shift enforcement responsibility from the state Attorney General to local health boards or departments. The changes also introduce a tiered fine system for repeat violations and clarify that the bill does not create unfunded mandates for local governments.

Scope change

The bill's scope of enforcement changed from statewide (Attorney General) to local jurisdiction (county, city, or health district boards).

ENFORCEMENT

Enforcement authority transferred from the Attorney General to the local board of health or health department with jurisdiction in the county, city, or health district.

REQUIREMENT

Added a graduated penalty system for violations: first violation is a warning, second is up to $100 fine, third is up to $200 fine, and fourth or subsequent is up to $500 fine.

FISCAL

Added a provision stating that NRS 354.599 does not apply, meaning additional local government expenses related to this act are not subject to that specific reimbursement statute.

DEFINITION

Removed the definition of 'plastic' from the bill text, though it remains in the legislative digest.

Added a new definition for 'local board of health' to specify it includes county, city, or district boards of health.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of January 1, 2026, and removed the section regarding the State Environmental Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Floor votes

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

Apr 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 16, Nays: 4, Absent: 1.) To printer.

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 329.) Reprinting dispensed with. Placed on General File.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

From printer. To committee.

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor