Senate passes broad public-safety bill increasing DUI penalties, creating felony "smash-and-grab" theft offense

CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Senate on June 1, 2025, approved Senate Bill 457, a comprehensive public-safety bill that increases penalties for certain driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offenses, creates a felony category for certain retail thefts described as "smash-and-grab" crimes, and requires behavioral assessments for students who repeatedly assault school staff; the measure passed on a 20–1 vote and was immediately ordered transmitted to the Assembly.

Sen. Melanie Scheibel, who led floor remarks on the bill, said SB 457 "is a comprehensive public safety bill" intended to protect school employees, shoppers and drivers. "The three main things that I want to focus on ... are it improves our DUI statutes," Scheibel said on the Senate floor, outlining what she called distinctions between driving under the influence resulting in substantial bodily harm and driving under the influence resulting in death.

Scheibel described several elements of the bill. She said the bill raises the prison exposure for some DUI-causing-death convictions from a previous 2–20 year range to "2 to 25 years," and for repeat offenders increases exposure in some cases to a 5–25 year range. She said the bill separates offenses for DUI causing substantial bodily harm from DUI causing death so they are treated as distinct crimes.

On retail theft, Scheibel described a new category for what the bill labels "smash and grab" crimes: where a person takes property from a retail store and, in the process, damages store property ("They smash a cabinet. They cut wires. They knock over shelves"), conduct the bill treats as a category C felony.

On school safety, Scheibel said SB 457 would require assessments for students who commit repeat batteries or assaults on teachers, counselors or school nurses so those students can be connected to services. "We ensure that kids who have repeat incidents ... are mandated to get an assessment so that those children can be connected with the services that they need," she said.

Amendment and emergency motion

The Senate adopted amendment 9-86, which Scheibel said narrows the bill to focus on theft defenses labeled as smash-and-grab, juvenile-justice provisions, and DUI-related reforms. After adoption of that amendment, Sen. Dina Cannizzaro moved to suspend rules, declare SB 457 an emergency measure, dispense with reprinting and place the bill on the General File for immediate consideration; that motion carried.

Floor reaction and vote

Sen. Buck said he supported the measure but noted the amendment packet "is 83 pages long" and that senators were attempting to review it before the vote. The final roll call showed 20 yes votes and 1 no, after which the presiding officer declared SB 457 to have received the constitutional majority, ordered it transmitted to the Assembly, and directed immediate transmission.

What the vote means

The Senate's action sends the amended SB 457 to the Assembly for consideration. The Senate declared the bill an emergency measure for purposes of immediate further processing; the transcript shows the bill was ordered transmitted to the Assembly immediately following passage.

Discussion vs. decision

Remarks by Scheibel and Buck were floor debate and explanation of the bill and amendment; the emergency-motion and final roll call were formal actions recorded on the Senate floor. The transcript does not show the name of the senator who cast the single no vote.

Ending

SB 457 will proceed to the Assembly for its further action and any additional amendments or votes there. The Senate record shows the bill and amendment were adopted and the measure was transmitted immediately to the Assembly.