Growth and Infrastructure

AB 452 requires certain Nevada electric utilities to include a cost-sharing mechanism in their 3-year integrated resource plans. This mechanism must forecast fuel and power costs, share cost savings or overruns between the utility and customers, and be based on the utility's projections. The bill mandates utilities to disclose these forecasts to the Public Utilities Commission, consumer protection offices, and approved intervenors, while also requiring annual cost caps and risk management strategies. It extends the Commission's review timeline for these plans from 135 to 180 days. The bill directly affects Nevada utilities responsible for electricity supply planning and their ratepayers.

SB 80 expands the Department of Motor Vehicles' (DMV) authority to inspect vehicles for theft investigations, allowing DMV employees (not just law enforcement) to check identification numbers and titles. It increases penalties for violations by wreckers, salvage operators, garages, and body shops, with fines rising to $10,000 for repeat offenses. The bill also removes an exemption for motortruck repair businesses (over 10,000 lbs gross weight), requiring them to follow standard garage and body shop regulations. Additionally, it allows DMV peace officers to apply for court orders for electronic surveillance and makes tampering with vehicle emission control devices illegal. These changes directly affect DMV staff, vehicle repair businesses, and owners of vehicles with emission systems.

SB 426 creates the Lake Tahoe Basin Scenic Byway Corridor Recreation Safety Zone along U.S. Highway 50 and state routes 28/431 in the Tahoe region, specifically designating areas connected to recreational destinations or scenic byways. It authorizes the Tahoe Transportation District to partner with local governments for parking enforcement within this zone, prohibiting contracts that tie payments to the number of parking citations issued. The bill also imposes a $4.00 nightly surcharge on transient lodging rentals in California’s Tahoe region and $4.25 in Nevada’s, with proceeds funding transportation and, in Nevada, supporting the Tahoe Science Advisory Council. These changes directly affect visitors, local governments managing parking, and the Tahoe Transportation District, focusing on improving transportation infrastructure and safety in the recreational corridor.

AB 458 modifies Nevada's energy laws to support solar-powered affordable housing. It allows residents of such housing to participate in net metering (earning credits for excess solar power fed back to the grid) and exempts owners/operators from certain utility regulations. The bill also revises the "expanded solar access program" to limit eligibility solely to low-income residential customers, requires utilities to offer lower rates for these customers using Nevada Clean Energy Fund support, and updates community solar project rules to allow larger systems (up to 5 MW) with prioritized grid-resilient sites. These changes aim to expand access to solar benefits for affordable housing residents and low-income households while adjusting how utilities administer solar programs.

AB 439 amends Nevada law to modify restrictions on public agencies and law enforcement purchasing drones or related equipment. It allows purchases from entities previously banned if the agency verifies all data collected (photos, recordings) is stored exclusively in the U.S. and inaccessible to foreign third parties, and the purchase complies with federal law. The bill also requires public agencies to register all operational drones with the Department of Public Safety, report annual usage, and restricts drone use to specific public purposes like fire services or search-and-rescue. It updates prohibited vendor lists to align with federal designations from the Department of Defense. The law is now effective (Chapter 317, signed June 5, 2025).