# Nevada AB163: AN ACT relating to mental health; ratifying and entering into the Counseling Compact; authorizing the sharing of certain information with the coordinated database and reporting system created by the Compact; providing licensed professional counselors practicing in this State under the Compact with the same legal status as clinical professional counselors who are licensed in this State; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Nevada AB163, AN ACT relating to mental health; ratifying and entering into the Counseling Compact; authorizing the sharing of certain information with the coordinated database and reporting system created by the Compact; providing licensed professional counselors practicing in this State under the Compact with the same legal status as clinical professional counselors who are licensed in this State; and providing other matters properly relating thereto., is a 83rd Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Gregory T. Hafen II (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-06-11 (Chapter 461.) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB163-83rd2025 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Nevada AB163 - State: Nevada - Session: 83rd Regular Session (2025) - Title: AN ACT relating to mental health; ratifying and entering into the Counseling Compact; authorizing the sharing of certain information with the coordinated database and reporting system created by the Compact; providing licensed professional counselors practicing in this State under the Compact with the same legal status as clinical professional counselors who are licensed in this State; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-31 - Last action: 2025-06-11, Chapter 461. - Sponsor: Gregory T. Hafen II (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: BDR 54-129 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (63 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Stronger action on counselor complaints across states: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, Nevada treats counselor complaints from other Compact states the same as in‑state complaints. Nevada applies its own laws to decide any action. This speeds and strengthens cross‑state enforcement to protect clients. - Stronger cross-state discipline for counselors: mixed, high. If your Home State disciplines your license, your multistate privilege turns off everywhere until cleared. Remote states can limit your privilege there, issue subpoenas, and courts in other states enforce them; issuers pay witness and travel costs. States may rely on another state’s factual finding… - Shared counselor database and privacy rules: mixed, medium. The Compact runs a shared database of licenses, investigations, and adverse actions. Nevada must send standard data and promptly report adverse actions so other states are notified. Investigative records are shared only with member states, not the public; states can mark some records confidential,… - Counselors can work across state lines: mixed, medium. Licensed counselors can practice in other member states under a Compact privilege. You may also provide telehealth to clients in other member states. You must follow the client’s state laws and scope of practice. States may charge a fee for this privilege. Beginning January 1, 2026, Nevada treats t… - New interstate commission for counselors: mixed, medium. Nevada joins the Counseling Compact and a new interstate Commission runs it. The Commission makes binding rules, keeps the data system, holds public meetings, and members have legal protections. It can assess member states to fund operations and enforce compliance, including lawsuits or ending a st… - Standard training and background checks for counselors: mixed, low. To qualify under the Compact, you need a counseling master’s with 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) or equivalent coursework. You must pass a national exam and complete supervised post‑graduate experience. For an initial Compact privilege, you must submit fingerprints or biometrics for FBI an… - Public records updated for Compact data: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, Nevada’s public‑records law covers Counseling Compact data. When state records rules conflict with Compact confidentiality, the Compact rules apply. Some licensing and investigative data stay confidential, while other records remain public. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Gregory T. Hafen II (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-06-02 | Senate | Final Passage - Senate (1st Reprint) | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2025-05-28 | House | Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint) | pass | 42 | 0 | | ## Actions (25) - 2025-06-11: Chapter 461. (legislature) - 2025-06-10: Approved by the Governor. (legislature) - 2025-06-06: Enrolled and delivered to Governor. (legislature) - 2025-06-04: In Assembly. To enrollment. (House) - 2025-06-02: To Assembly. (Senate) - 2025-06-02: Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) (Senate) - 2025-06-01: Taken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day. (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Read second time. (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Placed on Second Reading File. (Senate) - 2025-05-31: From committee: Do pass. (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Read first time. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. To committee. (Senate) - 2025-05-29: In Senate. (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate. (House) - 2025-05-28: From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. (House) - 2025-05-27: Read third time. Amended. (Amend. No. 826.) To printer. (House) - 2025-05-27: Placed on General File. (House) - 2025-05-27: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (House) - 2025-03-19: Rereferred to Committee on Ways and Means. Exemption effective. To committee. (House) - 2025-03-19: Taken from General File. (House) - 2025-03-19: Read second time. (House) - 2025-03-18: From committee: Do pass. (House) - 2025-03-02: Notice of eligibility for exemption. (House) - 2025-02-04: Read first time. To committee. (House) - 2025-02-02: From printer. (House) - 2025-01-31: Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. To printer. (House) ## Bill text - As Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB163_EN.pdf) - As Introduced: [PDF](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB163.pdf) - Reprint 1: [PDF](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB163_R1.pdf) ## Related bills - AB188: AN ACT relating to the Public Employees' Benefits Program; requiring the Board of the Public Employees' Benefits Program to report certain information relating… (vetoed) - SB217: AN ACT relating to health care; prohibiting a governmental entity from substantially burdening certain activity relating to assisted reproduction under certain… (vetoed) - AB499: AN ACT relating to elections; requiring, with certain exceptions, a registered voter show photo identification to vote in person; requiring the Department of M… (vetoed) - AB397: AN ACT relating to higher education; revising provisions governing certain waivers of fees provided by the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada; revisi… (vetoed) - AB259: AN ACT relating to health care; prohibiting certain actions related to pricing and reimbursement for certain drugs; creating a cause of action for violating su… (vetoed) - AB169: AN ACT relating to insurance; establishing the applicability of provisions requiring policies of health insurance to include certain coverage; requiring that c… (signed) ## Sources - [As Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB163_EN.pdf) - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB163.pdf) - [Reprint 1 (PDF)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB163_R1.pdf) ## Related - [AB188: AN ACT relating to the Public Employees' Benefits Program; requiring the Board…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB188-83rd2025) - [SB217: AN ACT relating to health care; prohibiting a governmental entity from substant…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-SB217-83rd2025) - [AB499: AN ACT relating to elections; requiring, with certain exceptions, a registered…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB499-83rd2025) - [AB397: AN ACT relating to higher education; revising provisions governing certain waiv…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB397-83rd2025) - [AB259: AN ACT relating to health care; prohibiting certain actions related to pricing…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB259-83rd2025) - [AB169: AN ACT relating to insurance; establishing the applicability of provisions requ…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB169-83rd2025) - [Nevada bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/nevada/bills) - [Nevada state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/nevada) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB163-83rd2025 (as of 2026-11-01).