All Roll Calls
Yes: 59 • No: 4
NevadaSB18983rd Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET
AN ACT relating to genetic counseling; prescribing certain duties and authority of a genetic counselor; providing for the regulation of the practice of genetic counseling by the Board of Medical Examiners; requiring the appointment of the Genetic Counseling Advisory Council; prescribing the requirements for the issuance and renewal of a license as a genetic counselor; authorizing the Board to take certain actions to investigate and impose discipline against a genetic counselor; prohibiting the unlicensed practice of genetic counseling except in certain circumstances; establishing a privilege for certain confidential communications; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Sponsored By: RobertaAssistant Majority Leader Lange (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
BDR 54-69
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
15 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 2 costs, 5 mixed.
Tough crackdown on unlicensed counseling
It is a crime to practice or claim to be a genetic counselor without a license. Unlicensed practice is a category D felony, or category C if it causes substantial bodily harm. The Board can get court orders to stop misuse of counselor titles without proving damage and can fine up to $5,000. Wellness providers may not offer genetic counseling without the proper license. Board staff can inspect practice sites and refer proven unlicensed practice to law enforcement.
Grace period for existing counselors in 2026
If you practiced genetic counseling on or before January 1, 2026, you may keep practicing without the new license until July 1, 2026. This delays licensing costs and paperwork for six months. The exception ends July 1, 2026.
Small practices can offer genetic counseling
Starting January 1, 2026, a professional entity can be formed to offer genetic counseling and medical services. It may provide those services only through officers, managers, and employees who are licensed or allowed by law. This helps small practices include genetic counseling.
Advisory council for genetic counseling
The law creates a Genetic Counseling Advisory Council to advise the Board of Medical Examiners. The Board appoints five Nevada residents: one genetics physician, three ABGC‑certified genetic counselors, and one public member. Members have staggered first terms, then two-year terms, are unpaid, and meet at least twice a year. The Board must make initial appointments as soon as possible; first terms end January 1, 2027 or January 1, 2028.
Faster discipline and safety checks
The Board lists clear grounds for discipline, including fraud, incompetence, and ethics violations. A counselor must report an ABGC lapse or revocation within 48 hours; the Board then revokes the license. The Board can order mental, physical, or competency exams and treat refusal like an admission in most cases. It may summarily suspend a license if there is imminent harm, with a hearing within 60 days, and required exams done in 30 days. Courts cannot stay Board suspension orders. Mandatory reporting applies to counselors, and insurers must report malpractice actions and settlements within 45 days or face fines up to $10,000. The Board may add advisory members, including genetic counselors, to help with investigations and panels.
Clear exemptions for counselors and others
Starting January 1, 2026, licensed genetic counselors may give nutrition information incidental to their work and are not treated as dietitians if they stay within scope and do not claim to be dietitians. Armed Forces medical officers and military genetic counselors are exempt when acting in official duties. People in other healing arts may provide genetic counseling within their existing scope if they do not claim a genetic counselor license. Other statutes are updated to say they do not govern genetic counseling.
Counselors count in insurance and records
Starting January 1, 2026, genetic counselors are included in public‑health, insurance, and consumer‑law definitions. The Division of Insurance regulates any Nevada insurer that covers genetic counseling, unless federal law controls. Counselors can serve as custodians of medical records, and “medical records” include billing. The law clarifies what counts as “genetic information” and a “genetic test.”
Smoking banned in counselor office waiting areas
Starting January 1, 2026, smoking is banned in the public waiting rooms, lobbies, and hallways of genetic counselor offices. The rule matches other health‑care offices and covers all forms of tobacco.
Union membership limits include genetic counselors
Starting January 1, 2026, genetic counselors are included in the law’s definition of “doctor or physician” for employee‑organization membership rules. This makes them subject to the same workplace membership limits that apply to physicians.
New license fees and paperwork for genetic counselors
The law sets fees for genetic counselor licenses: up to $400 to apply and up to $600 to renew every two years. You must include your Social Security number on applications and renewals. You must submit the child-support compliance form. The Board cannot issue or renew a license if you do not submit the form or you are not in compliance and have no approved plan.
Malpractice lawsuit rules for counselors start 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, genetic counselors are treated as providers of health care in malpractice law. Attorney contingency fees in these cases are capped at 35% of the recovery. Courts may order periodic payments for future damages over $50,000 and apply collateral‑benefit and subrogation rules. These changes define how suits and payouts work in cases involving counselors.
Nevada licenses genetic counselors with standards
The law creates a state license and defines what genetic counseling includes. To get licensed, you need a master’s from an ACGC‑accredited program (or approved foreign equivalent), pass the ABGC or ABMGG exam, and hold ABGC certification. The Board adopts ethics rules, requires fingerprints and a criminal‑history check, and may issue supervised temporary licenses to qualified candidates. Students and supervised assistants may help within set limits. Licenses expire June 30 of odd‑numbered years; renewal needs 20 hours of approved CE, active ABGC certification, and the renewal fee. Practice is tied to where the patient is located. The Board monitors competence and cannot make rules that block providers from collaborating.
When these changes take effect
Some parts of the law take effect when it is signed. Most sections are in force for all purposes on January 1, 2026; they are effective earlier only to adopt regulations. Section 18 takes effect on January 1, 2031. Section 5.9 expires on January 1, 2031.
New duties and protections for genetic counselors
Starting January 1, 2026, genetic counselors count as health care providers for aggravated assault laws, so higher penalties can apply when they are attacked at work. On the same date, they must report known or suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation, or abandonment of older or vulnerable people within 24 hours to designated agencies. Local government rules that use “provider of health care” also include genetic counselors.
Stronger reporting and oversight for counselors
Licensed genetic counselors must report malpractice lawsuits, arbitration or mediation claims, settlements or awards, and reportable sanctions within 45 days. The Board can fine up to $5,000 per violation and makes these reports public records. Anyone can file a written complaint, and facilities and schools must report within 30 days; urgent privilege changes are due in 5 days. When the Board gets a report of a judgment, award, or settlement, it must investigate unless it already started one. The Board keeps complaints for at least 10 years.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
RobertaAssistant Majority Leader Lange
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Angela D. Taylor
Democratic • Senate
Dina Neal
Democratic • Senate
Edgar Flores
Democratic • Senate
James Ohrenschall
Democratic • Senate
Julie Pazina
Democratic • Senate
MelanieChief Majority Whip Scheible
Democratic • Senate
Michelee "Shelly" Cruz-Crawford
Democratic • Senate
Nicole J.Majority Leader Cannizzaro
Democratic • Senate
SkipDeputy Majority Whip Daly
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/23/2025
Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint)
Yes: 40 • No: 2
Senate vote • 4/22/2025
Final Passage - Senate (1st Reprint)
Yes: 19 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Chapter 179.
5/31/2025legislatureApproved by the Governor.
5/31/2025legislatureEnrolled and delivered to Governor.
5/27/2025legislatureTo enrollment.
5/23/2025SenateIn Senate.
5/23/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 40, Nays: 2.) To Senate.
5/23/2025HouseTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
5/22/2025HouseTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
5/21/2025HouseRead second time.
5/20/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass.
5/19/2025HouseRead first time. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. To committee.
4/28/2025HouseIn Assembly.
4/28/2025HouseTo Assembly.
4/28/2025SenateFrom printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.
4/25/2025SenateRead third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 19, Nays: 2.) To printer.
4/22/2025SenateReprinting dispensed with.
4/21/2025SenateRead second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 35.)
4/21/2025SenatePlaced on Second Reading File.
4/21/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
4/21/2025SenateFrom printer. To committee.
2/7/2025SenateRead first time. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. To printer.
2/6/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Enrolled
As Introduced
Reprint 1
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