All Roll Calls
Yes: 59 • No: 4
NevadaSB2483rd Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET
AN ACT relating to emergency medical services; providing for the certification and regulation of emergency medical responders; prescribing certain duties and authority of an emergency medical responder; prohibiting a person from representing himself or herself as an emergency medical responder without a valid certification; applying certain legal protections for emergency medical services to emergency medical responders; authorizing the collection of certain data from an applicant for the renewal of a certificate as an emergency medical responder; requiring the reporting of certain data concerning veterans who apply for and receive certification as an emergency medical responder; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Sponsored By: Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
Signed by Governor
BDR 40-292
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
College help for fallen responders’ children
Dependent children of certified emergency medical responders killed in the line of duty gain help with undergraduate college costs. The parent must have served a public agency as a salaried employee or volunteer, not a contractor. The child must pursue an undergraduate degree at a Nevada System of Higher Education school. Subject to available funds, the Board of Regents pays registration fees, laboratory fees, and required books and course materials. Fees assessed after the child turns 23 are not covered.
More hepatitis coverage for medical responders
Beginning January 1, 2026, hepatitis protections cover qualified Nevada emergency medical responders, technicians, advanced technicians, and paramedics whose main duties are emergency care. After 5 years of continuous qualifying Nevada employment before disability or death, hepatitis is conclusively treated as work-related. Compensation includes full payment for related treatment, surgery, hospital stays, and applicable disability or death benefits. Hepatitis diagnosed at hiring is generally excluded; special rules address different strains and diagnoses within 1 year after employment ends. Partly disabled workers unable to perform the covered work can choose permanent-total-disability benefits. Certified responders employed in Nevada whose main duties are emergency medical services also gain preventive hepatitis treatment through workers’ compensation.
More mental health support for responders
Emergency medical responders employed by Nevada public safety agencies can claim workers’ compensation for qualifying stress-related mental injuries. They must directly witness a qualifying death, grievous bodily harm, or the aftermath during employment. Extreme stress from that witnessing must be the main cause, proved by clear and convincing medical or psychiatric evidence. Agencies must also provide mental health education to covered first responders, including volunteers. Training covers awareness, prevention, reducing harm, and treatment.
Injured responders gain rights to sue
Certified emergency medical responders can seek damages for personal injuries caused by another person’s willful conduct or careless property management. Covered cases include conduct after someone knew or should have known the responder was present, intended injury, specified legal violations, or arson. This provision does not make the responder’s employer liable.
More legal protection for responder care
Emergency medical responders now count as people who administer emergency medical services under Nevada law. Responders receive protection from civil damages when following instructions from a physician, physician assistant, anesthesiologist assistant, or licensed nurse. This covers emergency care at the scene or during transport, but not gross negligence. Completing the specified developmental-disability training does not, by itself, raise their care standard or duties when identifying, diagnosing, or treating a developmental disability.
Responders can decline renewal data requests
Health authorities can offer a health department data request to emergency medical responders renewing their certificates. They can ask for electronic submission, but answering is optional. The information is confidential, and applicants cannot be disciplined for declining.
Responders get emergency bike rule exemptions
Certified or interstate-compact-authorized emergency medical responders have limited exemptions from state and local bicycle, electric-bike, and electric-scooter operating rules. The exemptions apply on duty when responding to an emergency call or when breaking a rule is necessary for their duties. Responders must still operate with due regard for other people’s safety.
Stronger crime protections for responders’ families
Courts can add 1 to 20 consecutive prison years for listed crimes willfully committed because the victim is an emergency medical responder on duty. The same range applies to listed crimes knowingly and willfully committed because the victim is a responder’s spouse or child of any age. The added term cannot exceed the sentence for the underlying crime. Assault is a gross misdemeanor when the responder is working or at the work premises and the accused knew or should have known their status. Using a deadly weapon, or having the present ability to use one, makes it a category B felony. Separate higher penalties apply to probationers, prisoners, and parolees.
Responders can give more lifesaving medicines
Certified or interstate-compact-authorized emergency medical responders can give an authorized entity’s epinephrine auto-injector for a suspected severe allergic reaction. They must be trained to recognize the reaction and give the medicine. Emergency medical responders can also give opioid-reversal medicine when clinically needed. Anyone giving opioid-reversal medicine in good faith and with reasonable care for a suspected opioid overdose receives legal protection. That protection covers criminal prosecution, professional licensing sanctions, and civil liability.
Rural clinics can use certified responders
Nevada county boards can staff limited medical facilities in outlying areas with certified emergency medical responders. These facilities provide outpatient care and emergency treatment. The county board decides whether responder staffing fits local needs; the law does not require it.
Court testing after responder disease exposure
Emergency medical responders now count as emergency response employees under Nevada law. After likely disease exposure, a certified responder, employer, or public agency can ask a court to order source testing. Testing can involve a living person or decedent and must be needed to decide the responder’s treatment. The court must find probable cause that blood or other bodily fluids were likely transferred. The employer, public agency, or its insurer pays for court-ordered testing.
Required hepatitis tests, paid by employers
Beginning January 1, 2026, covered emergency medical workers must get hepatitis C blood tests at hiring, when coverage starts, and annually. Hepatitis A and B tests are required at those same times, but annual testing ends after vaccination. These rules cover licensed attendants and certified responders, technicians, advanced technicians, and paramedics whose main duties are emergency medical services. Employers must offer hepatitis A and B vaccines at hiring and other medically appropriate times. Employers pay for required tests and vaccines provided under the law.
New certification rules for emergency responders
Beginning January 1, 2026, Nevada certifies emergency medical responders under state standards, with statewide certificates lasting no more than 2 years. Approved training must follow U.S. Department of Transportation standards and use approved instructors or organizations. Applicants need developmental-disability training before initial certification, plus at least 4 hours of weapons-of-mass-destruction medical training within 2 years afterward. People cannot claim the responder title without a valid certificate, except when practicing under the interstate licensing compact. Holders of valid certificates issued under the prior rule on January 1, 2026, can practice until expiration. They must finish both required training courses before applying to renew.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/19/2025
Final Passage - Assembly (As Introduced)
Yes: 42 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/22/2025
Final Passage - Senate (As Introduced)
Yes: 17 • No: 4
Actions Timeline
Chapter 34.
5/27/2025legislatureApproved by the Governor.
5/26/2025legislatureEnrolled and delivered to Governor.
5/23/2025legislatureIn Senate. To enrollment.
5/19/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate.
5/19/2025HouseTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
5/16/2025HouseTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
5/15/2025HouseRead second time.
5/14/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass.
5/12/2025HouseRead first time. Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services. To committee.
4/24/2025HouseIn Assembly.
4/24/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 17, Nays: 4.) To Assembly.
4/22/2025SenateTaken from Secretary's desk. Placed on General File.
4/22/2025SenateTaken from General File. Placed on Secretary's desk.
4/17/2025SenateTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
4/16/2025SenateTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
4/15/2025SenateRead second time.
4/14/2025SenatePlaced on Second Reading File.
4/14/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass.
4/14/2025SenateRead first time. To committee.
2/3/2025SenateFrom printer.
11/12/2024SenatePrefiled. Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services. To printer.
11/7/2024Senate
Bill Text
As Enrolled
As Introduced
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