All Roll Calls
Yes: 63 • No: 0
NevadaAB50383rd Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
AN ACT relating to governmental administration; prohibiting certain acts related to critical infrastructure or used utility wire; establishing requirements relating to transactions involving used utility wire; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Sponsored By: Assembly Committee on Government Affairs
Signed by Governor
BDR 15-394
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
New crimes for damaging utilities
It is now a crime to willfully tamper with, remove, damage, or destroy critical infrastructure like power lines, transformers, fiber cables, cell towers, water, gas, and sewer systems. Penalties scale by the value of the damage: under $1,200 is a misdemeanor, $1,200 to under $5,000 is a gross misdemeanor, and $5,000 or more is a category D felony. Repair or replacement costs count toward that value. If the act causes a service outage, it is a category C felony. Prosecutors and courts may not stack extra penalties for the same act under the named theft and property-damage statutes.
Harsher penalties and shutdowns for scrap
Breaking the used‑wire handling rules brings penalties by weight: under 100 lbs is a misdemeanor, 100 to under 400 lbs is a gross misdemeanor, and 400 lbs or more is a category D felony. Violating purchase, recordkeeping, or payment rules is a misdemeanor unless another law sets a higher penalty. Courts can order a scrap metal processor to stop operating for at least 30 days for a first or second offense, and for 1 year after a third or later offense. Selling used catalytic converters is a felony: 1 unit is category E, 2–9 units is category D, and 10 or more is category C.
Strict rules for buying used utility wire
Only certain people may possess used utility wire: permitted disposal sites, licensed contractors, licensed scrap processors or junk dealers with records, businesses that generate wire, or owners with proof. Buyers may purchase used wire only from these allowed sellers and must check proof of ownership. Scrap processors must pay by check or ACH, keep a clear photo or video of the seller and the wire, copy a valid photo ID with name and address, and get a written ownership statement. A written business agreement with an ongoing, detailed log can satisfy this. Processors must keep permanent records of each deal for at least 3 years and give them to local police on demand. If police run a secure reporting system, processors must file an electronic report before 12 p.m. each business day for prior‑day wire buys and post a public notice. Processors and junk dealers must hold the proper license and may not buy from unlicensed persons. People who buy or receive used utility wire now count as processors. The law removes used utility wire from the general term “scrap metal,” but these specific rules still apply.
Limits on lawsuits during certain crimes
You cannot sue state officers or employees for injury, death, or damage that happens in or on a public building or vehicle while you were committing the listed crimes, including the new utility‑tampering crime. You can still sue if the officer or employee intentionally caused or substantially contributed to the harm, or if your constitutional rights were violated.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Assembly Committee on Government Affairs
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/30/2025
Final Passage - Senate (2nd Reprint)
Yes: 21 • No: 0
House vote • 5/27/2025
Final Passage - Assembly (2nd Reprint)
Yes: 42 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter 332.
6/6/2025legislatureApproved by the Governor.
6/5/2025legislatureEnrolled and delivered to Governor.
6/2/2025legislatureIn Assembly. To enrollment.
5/31/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly.
5/30/2025SenateRead second time.
5/29/2025SenatePlaced on Second Reading File.
5/29/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass.
5/29/2025SenateRead first time. Referred to Committee on Finance. To committee.
5/27/2025SenateIn Senate.
5/27/2025SenateRead third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate.
5/27/2025HouseFrom printer. To reengrossment. Reengrossed. Second reprint.
5/27/2025HouseRead third time. Amended. (Amend. No. 809.) To printer.
5/26/2025HousePlaced on General File.
5/26/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass, as amended.
5/26/2025HouseTo committee.
4/24/2025HouseFrom printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.
4/24/2025HouseTo printer.
4/21/2025HouseRereferred to Committee on Ways and Means. Exemption effective.
4/21/2025HouseTaken from General File.
4/21/2025HouseRead second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 407.)
4/21/2025HousePlaced on Second Reading File.
4/21/2025HouseFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
4/21/2025HouseNotice of eligibility for exemption.
4/3/2025HouseFrom printer. To committee.
3/25/2025House
Bill Text
As Enrolled
As Introduced
Reprint 1
Reprint 2
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