# Nevada AB85: AN ACT relating to wildlife; authorizing the management of designated invertebrates by the Board of Wildlife Commissioners and the Department of Wildlife; requiring the Department to coordinate with the State Department of Agriculture in preparing the State Wildlife Action Plan; revising the definition of “wildlife” to include designated invertebrates; establishing a wildlife classification for designated invertebrates; requiring the listing of designated invertebrates as a fully protected species under certain circumstances; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Nevada AB85, AN ACT relating to wildlife; authorizing the management of designated invertebrates by the Board of Wildlife Commissioners and the Department of Wildlife; requiring the Department to coordinate with the State Department of Agriculture in preparing the State Wildlife Action Plan; revising the definition of “wildlife” to include designated invertebrates; establishing a wildlife classification for designated invertebrates; requiring the listing of designated invertebrates as a fully protected species under certain circumstances; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto., is a 83rd Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Howard Watts (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-06-03 ((No further action taken.)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB85-83rd2025 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Nevada AB85 - State: Nevada - Session: 83rd Regular Session (2025) - Title: AN ACT relating to wildlife; authorizing the management of designated invertebrates by the Board of Wildlife Commissioners and the Department of Wildlife; requiring the Department to coordinate with the State Department of Agriculture in preparing the State Wildlife Action Plan; revising the definition of “wildlife” to include designated invertebrates; establishing a wildlife classification for designated invertebrates; requiring the listing of designated invertebrates as a fully protected species under certain circumstances; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. - Status: failed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2024-12-09 - Last action: 2025-06-03, (No further action taken.) - Sponsor: Howard Watts (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: BDR 45-229 - Touches household money: no - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Nevada expands invertebrate conservation and pollinator planning: benefit, low. Nevada’s conservation program now includes designated invertebrates, supporting efforts to protect, restore, and breed these species and preserve their habitats. The wildlife commission’s land-management powers extend to selected species or habitats threatened with extinction or destruction. The wi… - Endangered invertebrates gain protection and capture limits: mixed, low. Designated invertebrates now qualify for Nevada’s fully protected species list. The wildlife commission must consult qualified authorities before finding a species or subspecies endangered and needing help to survive. Reasons can include overuse, disease, threatened habitat, or other factors. After… - Nevada wildlife rules cover at-risk invertebrates: mixed, low. Nevada wildlife laws now cover designated invertebrates—animals without backbones that the State Wildlife Action Plan identifies as needing conservation most. Pests defined in state law are excluded. Coverage includes species naturally found in the wild, whether native to Nevada or raised in captiv… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Howard Watts (Democratic), House ## Actions (11) - 2025-06-03: (No further action taken.) (House) - 2025-04-22: From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. To committee. (House) - 2025-04-17: To printer. (House) - 2025-04-17: Rereferred to Committee on Ways and Means. Exemption effective. (House) - 2025-04-17: Taken from General File. (House) - 2025-04-17: Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 260.) (House) - 2025-04-16: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (House) - 2025-02-09: Notice of eligibility for exemption. (House) - 2025-02-04: Read first time. To committee. (House) - 2024-12-12: From printer. (House) - 2024-12-09: Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources. To printer. (House) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB85.pdf) - Reprint 1: [PDF](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB85_R1.pdf) ## Related bills - 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) - 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) - SB502: AN ACT relating to projects of capital improvement; authorizing certain expenditures for certain projects of the Executive and Legislative Departments of the S… (signed) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB85.pdf) - [Reprint 1 (PDF)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB85_R1.pdf) ## Related - [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) - [AB188: AN ACT relating to the Public Employees' Benefits Program; requiring the Board…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-AB188-83rd2025) - [SB502: AN ACT relating to projects of capital improvement; authorizing certain expendi…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NV-SB502-83rd2025) - [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-AB85-83rd2025 (as of 2026-11-01).