[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6608179,"mediaKeyId","2940765-f57890d7a3d8f185a0e49c381c1a41a2","parentId",2940765,"title","Senate committee backs SB304 to restructure Nevada vehicular-homicide law; prosecutors, victims push for tougher penalties","audioSeconds",7287,"startMs",1667000,"endMs",8954000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2940765-f57890d7a3d8f185a0e49c381c1a41a2&start=1667&end=8954","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2940765-f57890d7a3d8f185a0e49c381c1a41a2/thumbnail_1667000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6608179/Nevada/Senate-committee-backs-SB304-to-restructure-Nevada-vehicular-homicide-law-prosecutors-victims-push-for-tougher-penalties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608179-cc08c849bf02b8227358b6997215402c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776021001&Signature=WnFiNvvQ8jJs0y33uOjBZCOp76pn2PRngDpi6rbrJAzdHUUeOb373YM74H8fDkxZ2HdxjWFn7FljLlGlKvdGjQvWTn3EmrraO2ww5YVAfABp4gsFYOxqiIrHb2QpGg992KTF2V7BmvyAuXjxMuSe0riEVgKkg2oOqwodG2Bm7Rk13rsRCC4BUVzuMKLDJfLlt4jhZb8OcLxm84F-xNKliSfnKogYopR8UaPE5UHgvBAP7jor6gvd89YkDsVlQWIcsadIJdK-JXq5o6KsyRvJhXh8xhe8xpvBn~P711CtZicpLhipcf6sbpwhepkwSm3qIf8fTuE9RPzgqGl7S9x6Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada State Legislature","date","2025-04-10T01:44:45.127Z","article","Senator Jeff Stone, sponsor of Senate Bill 304, presented the measure April 9 to the Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure, saying the bill \"aims to revise the elements required for a person to commit the crime of vehicular homicide in Nevada.\"

The bill would remove language that a person must have been previously convicted of at least three DUI offenses before being charged with vehicular homicide and instead focus on conduct that proximately causes death while driving under the influence. John Jones, Chief Deputy District Attorney (Nevada District Attorneys Association), described an amendment to rework two existing DUI statutes so one would cover DUI causing substantial bodily harm and the other would be the DUI death statute. Jones said the amendment would strike the phrase \"the death of\" from NRS 484C.430 so that statute would be limited to substantial bodily harm, while NRS 484C.440 would be the statute for DUI death and carry higher penalties.

The Clark County prosecutors argued the current statutory structure prevents charging certain egregious DUI deaths at a severity comparable to second‑degree murder. \"At this point we have to recognize that this is a choice that is being made, a willful choice, tantamount to firing a gun into a crowd when you get into a vehicle and choose to drive while impaired,\" said Eric Baumann, Chief of the Vehicular Crimes Unit, Clark County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors described litigation limiting prosecutors' ability to charge DUI deaths as murder; John Jones cited the Nevada Supreme Court decision in the Lavelle matter in explaining the impetus for the statutory change.

Victims and victim‑advocacy groups provided emotional testimony in support. Denise Parish, who lost her husband in a DUI crash, said: \"We need this bill passed so that there are others so others aren't sentenced to life like I am.\" Other survivors, including family members of two law enforcement officers killed in the same crash, urged the committee to adopt stronger penalties for drivers who kill while impaired.

Opponents including John Pura of the Clark County Public Defender's Office said Nevada already has among the harshest DUI penalties nationally and warned penalties alone may not reduce impaired driving. \"We actually already have some of the harshest penalties in the nation for DUI,\" Pura said, and he urged the committee to consider additional prevention tools such as dram shop or host‑liability laws, stronger server training and sobriety checkpoints.

Committee members thanked victims and stakeholders; sponsor Stone said he was available to work with public defenders and others on amendments. In the committee work session later the same day, members moved to amend and do pass SB304. The committee recorded the motion as carrying unanimously.

Why it matters: Senate Bill 304 would change who can be charged with vehicular homicide and would separate DUI substantial bodily harm from DUI death in Nevada statute. Prosecutors say the change is needed to allow sentencing closer to second‑degree murder in the most serious DUI fatalities; public defenders and some others urged a broader approach that includes prevention and treatment.

What happens next: The committee advanced the bill to the Senate floor with the committee amendment; sponsors and stakeholders said they are open to further amendment during floor debate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/9/2025 - Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Jeff Stone, sponsor of Senate Bill 304, presented the measure April 9 to the Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure, saying the bill \"aims to revise the elements required for a person to commit the crime of vehicular homicide in Nevada.\"","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6608172,"Votes at a glance: Senate Growth & Infrastructure work session advances a package of bills including SB304 and SB309",1188,7803000,8991000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2940765-f57890d7a3d8f185a0e49c381c1a41a2&start=7803&end=8991","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2940765-f57890d7a3d8f185a0e49c381c1a41a2/thumbnail_7803000.jpg","/articles/6608172/Nevada/Votes-at-a-glance-Senate-Growth-Infrastructure-work-session-advances-a-package-of-bills-including-SB304-and-SB309","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608172-bd2c6d3672d520c257733f6a240c96c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776021001&Signature=TfE0wWVN-aA7vPRg4v9eL3XiZm7nVQXS5MfDhFCOIJuuDgBNKDJOjeIMXe~fPxhgtcIHMRIkToHuYv7FnxNzUcwRLW5wrsQH61u~oTtloNE3XP0jDU~4CL5P-kdeWq8R~Ud~a2pi11V23vTz4MSAXMAdocXGLol-dRI~FKz-vQ1LoMlEGOeQFf0mA-1wTvhkZsJwWRPMHyrgSg0XHA05Qa6tcTmzUvAA6bxF-XVllgP5j-cXmVG8bynH7RHPuE7mnmtIyi7DFbhRHAjakJ49wcXa4QqyfXphY5vt0WFtXKRZNMIhAvtDyOFTwws8dT2FuqPHSKySs-XgII58L1MK6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure conducted a work session April 9 and moved a series of bills to the Senate floor. Listed below are the bills addressed in the work session, the committee action, and any recorded member objections noted in committee debate.

SB304 — Vehicular homicide (Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Stone)
Motion: Amend and do pass (committee amendment reorganizing DUI statutes as presented in the hearing).
Outcome: Carried unanimously in committee; advanced to Senate floor. (Floor statement assigned to Sen. Stone.)

SB309 — Driving under the influence updates (Sponsor: Sen. John Steinbeck)
Motion: Amend and do pass (amendment narrowed to four policy proposals: lower BAC evaluation threshold to 0.16; add fentanyl per‑se at 1 ng/ml; increase second‑offense custody to 20 days; close treatment‑court enhancement loophole). The committee removed an earlier proposal to repeal the phlebotomist testimony statute after defense objections.
Outcome: Carried unanimously in committee; advanced to Senate floor. (Floor statement assigned to Sen. Steinbeck.)

SB113 — Adds occupational and physical therapists to disability placard certifiers (Sponsor: Sen. Steinbeck)
Motion: Amend and do pass (technical amendment clarifying oversight and team member completion of forms).
Outcome: Carried unanimously; floor statement assigned to sponsor.

SB180 — Minimum liability insurance for certain motor carriers (Sponsor: Sen. Flores)
Motion: Amend and do pass (amendment proposed staggered minimum liability levels over time: $1,000,000 (2026), $1,250,000 (2028), $1,500,000 (2030)).
Recorded opposition: Senator Hansen stated he would vote no and described the proposed increases as excessive. Senator Brock also recorded a no; committee motion nevertheless carried.
Outcome: Motion carried; floor statement assigned to sponsor.

SB194 — Short‑term vehicle rental insurance requirements (Sponsor: Sen. Scheibel)
Motion: Amend and do pass (gut‑and‑replace; requires renters to show personal insurance or be offered short‑term coverage; prohibits unfair sales practices by lessors).
Outcome: Carried unanimously; floor statement assigned to sponsor.

SB326 — Public‑utility infrastructure reporting (Sponsor: Sen. Cruz Crawford)
Motion: Amend and do pass (revised reporting content for utilities to the PUCN).
Outcome: Carried unanimously; floor statement assigned to sponsor.

SB359 — Civil infraction procedures (Sponsor: Sen. Scheibel)
Motion: Do pass (no amendments at work session).
Outcome: Carried unanimously; floor statement assigned to sponsor.

SB382 — Trailer registration for agricultural use (Sponsor: Sen. Hansen)
Motion: Amend and do pass (narrow registration to trailers primarily used to transport livestock/ag products or farm/ranch machinery; five‑year registration option with specified fee rules).
Outcome: Carried unanimously; floor statement assigned to sponsor.

SB395 — Autonomous vehicle operation restrictions (Sponsor: Sen. Orenshaw)
Motion: Do pass (prevents certain autonomous vehicles from operating on state highways without a human operator present).
Recorded opposition: Senators Hansen and Buck stated no votes; motion passed in committee.
Outcome: Carried; floor statement assigned to sponsor.

SB416 — 24/7 sobriety program privilege (committee bill)
Motion: Amend and do pass (replace restricted license with a privilege to drive if program requirements are met; amendment refined effective date tied to DMV readiness and removed mental‑illness references).
Outcome: Carried unanimously; floor statement assigned to sponsor committee member.

SB417 — Alternative rate making for natural‑gas utilities (committee bill)
Motion: Amend and do pass (amendment authorizes PUCN formula rate methodology, consumer sessions in major counties, and utility acceptance/rejection window for modified plans).
Outcome: Carried unanimously; floor statement assigned to sponsor committee member.

SB442 — Utility service‑termination reporting (committee bill)
Motion: Amend and do pass (amendment changes reporting from monthly to quarterly, requires public availability and ZIP‑code breakdowns for terminations).
Outcome: Carried unanimously; floor statement assigned to sponsor committee member.

What this means: The committee advanced a mix of statute updates, regulatory and consumer‑protection measures, and public‑safety bills. Several bills carried unanimous committee support after negotiated amendments; a few measures recorded individual committee objections but still passed the committee vote. Each bill will next appear on the Senate floor for further action.

Methodology: This roundup is based on the committee hearing and work session transcript for the Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure on April 9, 2025.","During an April 9 work session the Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure moved multiple bills to the Senate floor. The committee recorded individual objections on a few measures; most motions carried. This roundup lists each bill, the committee motion, and any recorded dissenters.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6608176,"Senate panel advances SB309 to add fentanyl per se limit, lower high‑BAC threshold and tighten repeat‑offender rules",5196,2638000,7834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2940765-f57890d7a3d8f185a0e49c381c1a41a2&start=2638&end=7834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2940765-f57890d7a3d8f185a0e49c381c1a41a2/thumbnail_2638000.jpg","/articles/6608176/Nevada/Senate-panel-advances-SB309-to-add-fentanyl-per-se-limit-lower-highBAC-threshold-and-tighten-repeatoffender-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608176-b3a9b7ffc1f94fede04c65398569f65f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776021001&Signature=aoEhjp20p-iNpxvhFL03oFrK-jT5gCzK5DwnSRGZULXdwCFuJHI8Tpjr3y6l6-9tWet~GPZ~Hwl2RbhlLXLV4Oj-uCUquxFt1D6MZs4eYSlvHHqMoHYMW8pwhzvDVDq6o7wKX3dAiJsUwyNoknAnDyDCatUOEwJllM4ZQUpcYhxkjcAdiDr-NPhpRM2mxWej-jiJ3ixOGfoMBW3QjgnnWxHkPAS6anMGNZWRA3fhKL~dNnr3VOqel89QqFS6egvxwD9dCLIoW~jAp8cnSN~rZ37QcKXJf-RCyqXMFvJc6ALtJN6Ua9B4dF4sTfhrF3TrnQ-AfdMEAZvVV7NyM1QkCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator John Steinbeck introduced Senate Bill 309 to the Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure on April 9, describing the bill as an update to impaired‑driving law to address increasing prevalence of opioids and other substances and to strengthen tools to prevent repeat offenses.

The Nevada District Attorneys Association and city prosecutors described a negotiated amendment that focuses on five prioritized policy changes that remained in the bill for committee consideration: lower the BAC threshold requiring a court‑ordered alcohol evaluation from 0.18 to 0.16; add fentanyl to the list of per‑se prohibited substances (with a proposed screening threshold of 1 nanogram per milliliter); increase custodial time for a second misdemeanor DUI from 10 to 20 days; close a loophole that prevents prosecutors from seeking enhanced \"fourth‑time\" penalties while a defendant is participating in certain treatment courts; and remove other non‑prioritized changes previously in the bill. During the work session sponsors and stakeholders agreed to strike from the amendment an initially proposed repeal of the statute that requires a phlebotomist or qualified person to be identified for admissibility of blood evidence, after public defenders voiced constitutional concerns.

Prosecutors and city attorneys argued the changes will expand evaluation and treatment referrals and give prosecutors better tools to pursue enhanced penalties for repeat offenders. \"You should not be driving on fentanyl,\" said Mark Schifalacqua, head of the Criminal Division for the City of Henderson. He described fentanyl's potency and recommended a per‑se screening threshold of 1 ng/ml to align with forensic laboratory practices.

Support also came from law enforcement and traffic‑safety groups. Andrew Bennett, chair of the Nevada Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety, supported the lowered evaluation threshold as an opportunity to identify substance use disorders earlier and offer treatment before another crash occurs.

Opponents, including Washoe and Clark County public defenders, asked the committee to consider evidence for mandatory jail increases and emphasized treatment and prevention. \"Our concern is that the person getting that second DUI ... changing it to 20 days without any sort of evidence to show that this is gonna help ... is not fixing the problem,\" said Paloma Guerreiro of the Washoe County Public Defender's Office.

After discussion the committee approved the amendment and moved SB309 out of committee in a work‑session vote. Committee members recorded some individual objections during separate bill votes in the meeting on other bills, but the motion on SB309 in the work session carried unanimously.

Why it matters: SB309 would update Nevada DUI law to respond to changes in drug threats (fentanyl), expand screening and treatment opportunities by lowering the high‑BAC evaluation threshold, and change penalties and prosecutorial tools to address repeat impaired drivers. The most contested pieces were the proposed jail minimum increase for second offenses and the earlier proposal to repeal the phlebotomist‑testimony statutory requirement; the latter was removed from the amendment before passage in committee.

What happens next: The committee advanced the amended SB309 to the Senate floor. Sponsors and legal stakeholders said they will continue to confer on statutory language and implementation details during floor consideration.","Senate Bill 309 was advanced after sponsors and prosecutors presented an amended bill that lowers the high‑BAC evaluation threshold, adds fentanyl to the list of prohibited per‑se substances, increases jail minimum for second DUIs and closes a specialty‑court enhancement loophole. The committee removed a proposed repeal of phlebotomist testimony.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee backs SB304 to restructure Nevada vehicular-homicide law; prosecutors, victims push for tougher penalties

Votes at a glance: Senate Growth & Infrastructure work session advances a package of bills including SB304 and SB309

Senate panel advances SB309 to add fentanyl per se limit, lower high‑BAC threshold and tighten repeat‑offender rules