Revises provisions relating to the care of children. (BDR 38-662)
SB 372 adds two new circumstances to Nevada law where a child’s care is not considered "abuse or neglect" or where a child’s health/welfare is not deemed "injured." Specifically, it clarifies that parents or guardians do not commit abuse/neglect when: (1) seeking mental health facility admission for a child whose behavioral needs threaten family safety, or (2) bringing a biological, foster, or adoptive child with similar behavioral needs into their home. These changes amend existing statutes (NRS 432B.020, 128.013, and 200.359) to explicitly exclude these actions from legal definitions of child abuse or neglect. The bill directly affects parents, guardians, and mental health providers by reducing legal liability for these specific care decisions.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Assembly Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Mar 17, 2025
Signed May 31, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
As Introduced
→
As Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
May 31, 2025
MODERATE
This bill adds new exemptions to Nevada's child abuse and neglect laws, protecting parents who seek mental health treatment for their children or bring other children with behavioral health needs into their homes. It also adds similar protections to the state's termination of parental rights and criminal liability statutes.
Scope change
The bill expands the circumstances under which parents are not considered to have abused or neglected a child or harmed their welfare, specifically adding protections for families dealing with behavioral health needs.
ELIGIBILITY
Added new exemptions to child abuse and neglect definitions for parents seeking mental health facility admission for their children when behavioral health needs pose a risk to family safety
Added new exemptions for parents bringing biological, foster, or adoptive children with behavioral health needs into their homes
Added similar exemptions to termination of parental rights provisions
Added similar exemptions to criminal liability provisions for child abuse or neglect
Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2025 · Assembly May 22, 2025
How they voted
20–0
Passed
Total votes 20
Apr 22, 2025
D
Democratic12
100% Yea
R
Republican8
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
7
Committee
3
May 31, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor. Chapter 205.
executive
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
To enrollment.
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate.
In Senate.
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass.
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly.
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass.
Placed on Second Reading File.
Read second time.
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
From printer. To committee.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
John Steinbeck
RRepublican
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