NevadaAB2683rd Regular Session (2025)House

AN ACT relating to water; exempting the State Engineer from liability for certain damages resulting from the performance of certain duties; revising provisions relating to the construction, reconstruction or alteration of a dam; exempting certain works under the jurisdiction of the United States Bureau of Reclamation or the United States Army Corps of Engineers from certain requirements relating to dams; requiring that certain applications relating to dams be made available to the Department of Wildlife; authorizing the State Engineer to enter certain parcels of land to access a dam or other obstruction; revising provisions relating to the removal of any dam, diversion works or obstruction; revising provisions relating to the removal of certain animals interfering with the flow of water; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Sponsored By: Assembly Committee on Natural Resources

Signed by Governor

BDR 48-261

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Faster removal of unlawful water works

The State Engineer can enter land with a dam or obstruction, and nearby land needed to reach it, at reasonable hours. If a dam, diversion, or obstruction is not legally established, the State Engineer can order it removed. The owner has 30 days after written notice to remove it; personal service is not required. If it is not removed within 30 days, or if the order is not appealed, the State Engineer may remove it.

State OK needed before dam work

You must get approval from the State Engineer before you build, rebuild, or change a dam. You must submit plans for dams 20 feet or taller, dams under 20 feet that hold more than 20 acre-feet, or dams the State Engineer labels high or significant hazard. You must notify the State Engineer before work starts. Starting work without approval is a misdemeanor, and each day is a separate offense. The law ends the old triplicate filing and the prior need for a water-use permit before construction. Federal Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps works are exempt from these state approvals, but must file duplicate plans.

Liability shield for State Engineer

The State Engineer and assistants are not liable for damages when a dam or reservoir fails because of their inspection, emergency response, or enforcement. This limits owners’ ability to recover money from those officials.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Assembly Committee on Natural Resources

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 63 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/21/2025

Final Passage - Senate (1st Reprint)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2025

Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint)

Yes: 42 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 64.

    5/28/2025legislature
  2. Approved by the Governor.

    5/28/2025legislature
  3. Enrolled and delivered to Governor.

    5/27/2025legislature
  4. In Assembly. To enrollment.

    5/22/2025House
  5. Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly.

    5/21/2025Senate
  6. Taken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.

    5/20/2025Senate
  7. Read second time.

    5/19/2025Senate
  8. From committee: Do pass.

    5/16/2025Senate
  9. Read first time. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources. To committee.

    4/16/2025Senate
  10. In Senate.

    4/15/2025Senate
  11. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate.

    4/15/2025House
  12. Taken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.

    4/14/2025House
  13. From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.

    4/11/2025House
  14. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 52.) To printer.

    4/10/2025House
  15. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.

    4/7/2025House
  16. Read first time. To committee.

    2/4/2025House
  17. From printer.

    11/14/2024House
  18. Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources. To printer.

    11/12/2024House

Bill Text

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