All Roll Calls
Yes: 56 • No: 7
NevadaAB38183rd Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
AN ACT relating to animals; revising provisions governing the seizure of animals under certain circumstances; revising certain penalties and remedies for acts of animal cruelty; revising certain provisions governing the ownership and care of animals treated cruelly; revising provisions relating to immunity from civil liability for certain actions taken to protect or remove a pet from a motor vehicle under certain circumstances; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
BDR 50-793
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Stronger penalties for animal cruelty
The law makes willful and malicious animal cruelty a felony. If the animal dies, or the act is meant to threaten or terrorize a person, it is a category B felony with 1 to 6 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Harming a police animal carries higher penalties. If a police animal is disabled or killed, it is a category B felony with the same prison range and possible fine, and the court may order you to pay vet bills and replacement costs.
Seizure and forfeiture rules for abused animals
A peace officer who finds an animal being treated cruelly must take it and provide care. The officer may humanely destroy it only with the owner’s written permission, a court order, or a licensed vet or technician’s recommendation. Owners have 7 calendar days after getting notice to ask for a hearing. If no hearing is asked for in time, or no owner is identified within 7 days, the animal is forfeited to the local government for rehoming or humane destruction. The same 7‑day rule applies when a person is arrested and a pet is impounded. Animals on farms and ranches are now subject to these seizure rules. The State, local governments, and certain veterinary staff are immune from lawsuits for taking or humanely destroying an animal under this law. The law also repeals an older section (NRS 574.110).
Clear rules for humane animal care
You may give humane help to a gravely injured animal to stop its suffering. Catching a feral cat to vaccinate and spay or neuter it, then returning it to the same place, is allowed. The law also defines who is a first responder, what a police animal is, and that cruelty includes acts and neglect causing unjustifiable pain, suffering, or death. It states these criminal rules do not interfere with hunting, food production, research, or animal husbandry.
Legal protection for rescuing pets in cars
Public‑safety workers are protected from lawsuits when they reasonably remove a pet from a car to protect it. You are also protected if the car is locked or there is no other reasonable way to remove the pet, you promptly call 911, law enforcement, animal control, or the fire department, you stay near the pet until responders arrive, and you cooperate with them. Responders then take custody under the cruelty‑removal rules.
Protective orders now cover pets
Courts can include pets in temporary and extended protective orders. Judges can bar the other person from injuring, threatening, or taking the animal. For extended orders, the judge can also decide who keeps the animal and set care arrangements.
Court-ordered evals and treatment for offenders
For adults convicted of animal cruelty, the court may require a psychiatric evaluation, counseling, therapy, or a rehabilitative or educational program as a condition of probation. The court must order the person to pay for these services to the extent they can afford it. For juveniles found delinquent for cruelty, the court must order a psychological evaluation and counseling or treatment. The court must try to use approved providers funded by public money or billed to insurance, and usually cannot charge the child or parent. Payment may be required only if a non‑approved provider is used or extra treatment is requested beyond recommendations.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 6/2/2025
Final Passage - Senate (2nd Reprint)
Yes: 14 • No: 7
House vote • 5/16/2025
Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint)
Yes: 42 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter 424.
6/9/2025legislatureApproved by the Governor.
6/9/2025legislatureEnrolled and delivered to Governor.
6/5/2025legislatureSenate Amendment No. 963 concurred in. To enrollment.
6/2/2025HouseIn Assembly.
6/2/2025HouseRead third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 14, Nays: 7.) To Assembly.
6/2/2025SenateFrom printer. To re-engrossment. Re-engrossed. Second reprint.
6/1/2025SenateRead second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 963.) To printer.
6/1/2025SenatePlaced on Second Reading File.
6/1/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
6/1/2025SenateRead first time. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. To committee.
5/19/2025SenateIn Senate.
5/19/2025SenateTo Senate.
5/16/2025HouseRead third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.)
5/16/2025HouseFrom printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.
5/16/2025HouseRead second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 526.) To printer.
5/15/2025HouseFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
5/14/2025HouseWaiver granted effective: April 14, 2025.
4/14/2025House(Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed.)
4/12/2025HouseNotice of eligibility for exemption.
3/12/2025HouseFrom printer. To committee.
3/11/2025HouseRead first time. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. To printer.
3/10/2025House
Bill Text
As Enrolled
As Introduced
Reprint 1
Reprint 2
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