NevadaSB18883rd Regular Session (2025)Senate

AN ACT relating to health care; requiring certain health facilities and providers of health care to take reasonable steps to provide a person with limited English proficiency with language assistance under certain circumstances; prescribing requirements governing the use of interpreters and translators to comply with that requirement; authorizing the discipline of certain health facilities and providers of health care for certain violations; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Sponsored By: Fabian Doñate (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

BDR 40-41

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Free, qualified language help in healthcare

Health facilities and licensed providers must take reasonable steps to remove language barriers. Language help for people with limited English is free, accurate, timely, and private. When needed, they must use a qualified interpreter or translator. Important machine‑translated documents must be checked by a qualified translator. Remote interpreters are allowed if the audio (and any video) is clear and staff are trained to use the system.

No forced or unqualified interpreters in care

You cannot be required to bring or pay for your own interpreter. Facilities and providers cannot use a child or an unqualified person to interpret. In an emergency, a temporary unqualified interpreter may be used only until a qualified interpreter confirms or fixes the communication. You may ask to use an adult you choose, but your request must be made to a qualified interpreter without that adult present, the adult must agree, it must be documented, and the provider must find it appropriate.

Boards can discipline providers for violations

Licensing boards can investigate and discipline providers who break the language‑access rules. Boards may fine up to $10,000 per violation and recover investigation costs. Orders are public records. Boards keep jurisdiction even if a license is expired, surrendered, or not renewed.

Strong penalties for noncompliant facilities

The state can punish facilities that break these rules. It can stop new admissions, limit beds, move patients at the facility’s cost, or appoint temporary managers. The Division can fine up to $5,000 per day for each violation, with up to 10% yearly interest on unpaid fines. Unpaid penalties can lead to license suspension, and county district attorneys must prosecute cases.

Localities exempt from usual cost rule

The usual NRS 354.599 rule does not apply to extra local‑government costs from this law. Local governments must handle these expenses under this exemption. This mainly affects how local budgets are managed.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Fabian Doñate

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 48 • No: 15

House vote • 5/22/2025

Final Passage - Assembly (2nd Reprint)

Yes: 35 • No: 7

Senate vote • 4/21/2025

Final Passage - Senate (1st Reprint)

Yes: 13 • No: 8

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 172.

    5/30/2025legislature
  2. Approved by the Governor.

    5/30/2025legislature
  3. Enrolled and delivered to Governor.

    5/27/2025legislature
  4. Assembly Amendment No. 560 concurred in. To enrollment.

    5/23/2025Senate
  5. In Senate.

    5/22/2025Senate
  6. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 35, Nays: 7.) To Senate.

    5/22/2025House
  7. Taken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.

    5/21/2025House
  8. Taken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.

    5/20/2025House
  9. From printer. To reengrossment. Reengrossed. Second reprint.

    5/20/2025House
  10. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 560.) To printer.

    5/19/2025House
  11. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.

    5/16/2025House
  12. Read first time. Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services. To committee.

    4/24/2025House
  13. In Assembly.

    4/24/2025House
  14. To Assembly.

    4/23/2025Senate
  15. From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.

    4/23/2025Senate
  16. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 13, Nays: 8.) To printer.

    4/21/2025Senate
  17. Reprinting dispensed with.

    4/18/2025Senate
  18. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 351.)

    4/18/2025Senate
  19. Placed on Second Reading File.

    4/18/2025Senate
  20. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.

    4/18/2025Senate
  21. Read first time. To committee.

    2/5/2025Senate
  22. From printer.

    2/5/2025Senate
  23. To printer.

    2/4/2025Senate
  24. Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.

    2/3/2025Senate

Bill Text

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