New Nevada state laws take effect in October including election worker protections, catalytic converter thefts

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Over 100 new Nevada laws went into effect on Oct. 1, stemming from the 2023 legislative session. That's about 19% of all new laws that were passed this year.

Some bills go through an administrative process to better understand how they'll be implemented and what their impact will be, which is the case for why some of these laws haven't gone into effect until Sunday.

To see the full list of bills that passed this year, click here.

ELECTION WORKER PROTECTIONS

SB406 provides protections for election and poll workers in Nevada after a string of harassment and intimidation claims following the 2020 election.

"Poll workers are afraid to show up because they've been harassed, they've been intimidated. And they don't want to work in a space where they feel afraid," said Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar. "We can have differences of opinions. We can have discussion. We can have debate. But at the end of the day, we have to continue to respect each other."

The bill elevates intimidation or harassment of election workers into a felony charge. Aguilar said it's especially important ahead of the 2024 presidential election, and he hopes it will stymie the high turnover seen in election divisions across the state.

FENTANYL TRAFFICKING CHANGES

SB35 was brought forth by Attorney General Aaron Ford to address the continuing fentanyl crisis in the state. The bill lowers the threshold for fentanyl trafficking from 100 grams to 28 grams.

Supporters like the ACLU of Nevada said this bill helps target producers and distributors of fentanyl rather than users or people who unknowingly bought it.

"It's not about simply being tough on crime. It's about being smart when we're dealing with challenges that our community faces," said Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the ACLU of Nevada.

HEALTHCARE AND OTHER PROTECTIONS FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN

AB292 provides a large swath of healthcare and other protections to incarcerated women in Nevada.

The bill will provide pelvic exams, free feminine hygiene products so they no longer have to be purchased in the prison commissary, and it stops male staff members from inspecting or searching incarcerated women while they're undressing in a private location.

"We've seen over the course of time, the women who are incarcerated within NDOC facilities, end up with irregular exams, including irregular pap smears, and don't end up with any treatment on the back end," said Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the ACLU of Nevada. "We think that ultimately, from a standpoint of basic dignity, this is something that the state should do and must do."

CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT FELONY CHARGE

SB243 would implement specific laws to charge criminals in catalytic converter thefts.

According to data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of catalytic converter thefts reported in claims to insurance companies increased over 1200 percent between 2019 and 2022.

This bill would require proof of ownership for catalytic converters, requiring the purchase to be done at an authorized dealer with proper licenses or documentation, and makes the thefts a felony.

"Catalytic converters are really easy to steal. Sometimes they can take as little as a minute and a half to like saw off your vehicle, and can cause thousands of dollars in damage," said Democratic State Senator Rochelle Nguyen. "They have precious metals within those catalytic converters, including platinum and rhodium, that are often sold on the black market."

Senator Nguyen said the bill is now being used as a model in other states.

LONG-ACTING REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTIVES BILL

Senator Rochelle Nguyen also sponsored SB280, which helps further strengthen Nevada's reproductive access and women's ability to make their own medical decisions, said Nguyen.

Nguyen said the bill addressed inequities for women, especially in rural settings, to get access to long-acting reversible contraception like IUDs.

"There were a lot of women that were asking for it upon giving birth in a hospital setting. And unfortunately, they were told, 'Hey, you have to come back in six weeks. And you have to do this in an outpatient procedure,'" said Senator Nguyen. "Instead of doing it when a doctor under medical care and medical advice, said, 'Hey, if you want to do this now, this is a better opportunity to do it. It's less painful. It can prevent any unwanted pregnancies in the future."

The bill would also help address insurance costs for such requests as well.