All Roll Calls
Yes: 53 • No: 8
NevadaSB40783rd Regular Session (2025)Senate
AN ACT relating to indigent services; revising provisions governing the Executive Director of the Department of Indigent Defense Services and the State Public Defender; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Sponsored By: Senate Committee on Judiciary
Signed by Governor
BDR 14-492
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New process and protections for Director
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Governor must choose the Executive Director from three people the Board recommends. The Director serves a 4‑year term and may be reappointed, staying until a successor is qualified. The Board can remove the Director only for good cause. The Governor can remove the Director only for criminal conduct or serious wrongdoing in office. The law states the indigent defense system must be independent to ensure adequate representation.
Transition rules for current leaders
Starting July 1, 2025, the State Public Defender serving on that date under prior law finishes the current term. An Executive Director appointed under prior law is treated as starting a new 4‑year term on July 1, 2026. These rules keep leadership stable during the change.
Executive Director now appoints Public Defender
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Executive Director appoints the State Public Defender to a 4‑year term. The Public Defender may be reappointed and serves until a successor is in place. Only the Executive Director or a deputy the Director selects may supervise the Public Defender or assign extra duties. No other officer or agency may direct the office. The Public Defender focuses on official duties and, except as allowed by law, may not take private cases.
Leaders must be licensed, Director full-time
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Executive Director and the State Public Defender must be licensed to practice law in Nevada or otherwise authorized by court rule. The Executive Director must work full time and cannot have other paid jobs. Within available money, the Director may hire employees or contractors needed to run the office.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Senate Committee on Judiciary
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/31/2025
Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint)
Yes: 41 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/27/2025
Final Passage - Senate (1st Reprint)
Yes: 12 • No: 8
Actions Timeline
Chapter 519.
6/13/2025legislatureApproved by the Governor.
6/11/2025legislatureEnrolled and delivered to Governor.
6/4/2025legislatureTo enrollment.
6/2/2025SenateIn Senate.
6/1/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 41, Nays: None, Excused: 1.) To Senate.
5/31/2025HouseRead second time.
5/30/2025HousePlaced on Second Reading File.
5/30/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass.
5/30/2025HouseRead first time. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. To committee.
5/28/2025HouseIn Assembly.
5/28/2025HouseFrom printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. To Assembly.
5/28/2025SenateRead third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 12, Nays: 8, Excused: 1.) To printer.
5/27/2025SenateReprinting dispensed with.
5/27/2025SenateRead third time. Amended. (Amend. No. 802.)
5/27/2025SenatePlaced on General File.
5/27/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
5/27/2025SenateTaken from General File. Re-referred to Committee on Finance. Exemption effective. To committee.
4/14/2025SenateRead second time.
4/14/2025SenateNotice of eligibility for exemption.
4/14/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass.
4/10/2025SenateFrom printer. To committee.
3/21/2025SenateRead first time. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. To printer.
3/20/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Enrolled
As Introduced
Reprint 1
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