# Nevada AB344: AN ACT relating to judiciary; replacing the term “master” with “judicial officer” when used to refer to judicial officers who perform certain duties; prescribing a procedure for the transfer of child welfare proceedings to a different court within this State; requiring the appointment of an attorney to represent certain parties during a child welfare proceeding in certain circumstances; revising the compensation that an appointed attorney in certain proceedings is entitled to receive; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Nevada AB344, AN ACT relating to judiciary; replacing the term “master” with “judicial officer” when used to refer to judicial officers who perform certain duties; prescribing a procedure for the transfer of child welfare proceedings to a different court within this State; requiring the appointment of an attorney to represent certain parties during a child welfare proceeding in certain circumstances; revising the compensation that an appointed attorney in certain proceedings is entitled to receive; and providing other matters properly relating thereto., is a 83rd Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Elaine H. Marzola (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-06 (Chapter 328.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB344-83rd2025 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Nevada AB344 - State: Nevada - Session: 83rd Regular Session (2025) - Title: AN ACT relating to judiciary; replacing the term “master” with “judicial officer” when used to refer to judicial officers who perform certain duties; prescribing a procedure for the transfer of child welfare proceedings to a different court within this State; requiring the appointment of an attorney to represent certain parties during a child welfare proceeding in certain circumstances; revising the compensation that an appointed attorney in certain proceedings is entitled to receive; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-03-03 - Last action: 2025-06-06, Chapter 328. - Sponsor: Elaine H. Marzola (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: BDR 38-155 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (62 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Guaranteed lawyers in child welfare cases: benefit, high. Children alleged to need protection get a court‑appointed attorney for every stage of the case. If a petition is filed and a parent or caregiver is indigent, the court appoints an attorney unless there is good cause not to. Appointed lawyers must be paid for reasonable time and expenses. Pay must b… - Move child welfare cases between courts: benefit, medium. A child welfare case can be moved to another Nevada court. The two courts hold a joint hearing and take public comments on the record. Both courts must decide the move is in the child’s best interest. If moved, the new court and the local child‑welfare agency take over the case. Guardianships grant… - New juvenile officers and faster timelines: benefit, medium. Juvenile courts can appoint trained juvenile judicial officers. They must have child‑welfare experience, get national training when first offered, and are paid from court budgets, not by the parties. These officers swear in witnesses, take evidence, and recommend findings. After evidence closes, th… - Clearer rules in paternity hearings: benefit, low. A court‑appointed judicial officer can handle family and paternity hearings. Informal hearings may be held before a judicial officer, and the public can be barred when rules allow. Genetic test results must be given to judges and judicial officers, subject to the law’s objection deadlines. If you a… - Licensed officers for minors’ protective orders: benefit, low. In protective‑order cases, the court may appoint a master if the petitioner is 18 or older. If the petitioner is under 18, the court must appoint a judicial officer. Any appointee must be a Nevada‑licensed attorney. - Courts now use "judicial officer" title: benefit, low. The law replaces the word "master" with "judicial officer" across many court laws. Courts can choose a different local title, but not use the word "master." It defines who a judicial officer is and includes them in the definition of a judge. Courts can appoint these officers and set needed qualific… - More safety and privacy for officers: benefit, low. Court‑appointed judicial officers can keep personal information confidential in public records and use an alternate mailing address on a driver’s license. A qualifying notice from a judicial officer can help reinstate a suspended license after you pay the state’s reinstatement fee. Attacking a cour… - Permit needed to hire under 14: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, an employer must get a written permit to hire a child under 14. A district court judge, or an authorized juvenile judicial officer, referee, or probation officer must sign it. Hiring a child under 14 without this permission is a misdemeanor. - Fewer privileges for mandatory reporters: cost, low. People who must report child abuse or neglect cannot use certain legal privileges in listed child‑welfare settings. This includes issues about not reporting, working with child‑welfare agencies or guardians ad litem, and cases under NRS 432B.410–432B.590 and section 27. - Transition and local cost rules: mixed, low. Starting July 1, 2026, extra local government costs tied to this law are exempt from NRS 354.599. Also starting July 1, 2026, code references are updated for new officer titles, and past contracts and actions remain valid. From July 1, 2026, sections 30 and 64 do not apply to cases that began befor… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Elaine H. Marzola (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-30 | Senate | Final Passage - Senate (1st Reprint) | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2025-05-26 | House | Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint) | pass | 41 | 0 | | ## Actions (24) - 2025-06-06: Chapter 328. (legislature) - 2025-06-05: Approved by the Governor. (legislature) - 2025-06-02: Enrolled and delivered to Governor. (legislature) - 2025-05-31: In Assembly. To enrollment. (House) - 2025-05-30: Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly. (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Read second time. (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Placed on Second Reading File. (Senate) - 2025-05-29: From committee: Do pass. (Senate) - 2025-05-26: Read first time. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. To committee. (Senate) - 2025-05-26: In Senate. (Senate) - 2025-05-26: Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 41, Nays: None, Excused: 1.) To Senate. (House) - 2025-05-26: Placed on General File. (House) - 2025-05-26: From committee: Do pass, as amended. (House) - 2025-04-23: To committee. (House) - 2025-04-23: From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. (House) - 2025-04-21: To printer. (House) - 2025-04-21: Rereferred to Committee on Ways and Means. Exemption effective. (House) - 2025-04-21: Taken from General File. (House) - 2025-04-21: Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 226.) (House) - 2025-04-21: Placed on Second Reading File. (House) - 2025-04-21: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (House) - 2025-03-27: Notice of eligibility for exemption. (House) - 2025-03-04: From printer. To committee. (House) - 2025-03-03: Read first time. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. To printer. (House) ## Bill text - As Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB344_EN.pdf) - As Introduced: [PDF](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB344.pdf) - Reprint 1: [PDF](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB344_R1.pdf) ## Related bills - 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) - 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) - AB301: AN ACT relating to community development; requiring certain records to be maintained by the board of trustees of certain general improvement districts; increas… (signed) ## Sources - [As Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB344_EN.pdf) - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB344.pdf) - [Reprint 1 (PDF)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB344_R1.pdf) ## Related - [AB259: AN ACT relating to health care; prohibiting certain actions related to pricing…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB259-83rd2025) - [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) - [AB301: AN ACT relating to community development; requiring certain records to be maint…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB301-83rd2025) - [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-AB344-83rd2025 (as of 2026-11-01).