Panel hears bill to allow local waivers of pet adoption fees for veterans, first responders

The Assembly Committee on Government Affairs heard Senate Bill 325 on April 25, a measure that would authorize counties, incorporated cities and certain nonprofit shelters in Nevada to establish programs waiving adoption fees for dogs and cats adopted by veterans, law‑enforcement officers and first responders, subject to available funding and reporting requirements.

Senator Fabian Donate, sponsor of SB325, told the committee the bill would "require any government body, or county or incorporated city and certain nonprofit organizations that operate an animal shelter to establish a program to waive the adoption fee of certain pets adopted by a person who is a veteran, member of law enforcement, or a first responder" and said the provision is contingent on available funding.

Nut graf: Supporters, including veterans' advocates, municipal shelter managers and animal‑welfare groups, argued the waiver could increase placements from overcrowded shelters and provide mental‑health benefits for veterans and first responders. The bill includes eligibility and reporting language and contains provisions—drawn from stakeholder recommendations—about the age and length‑of‑stay of animals prioritized for the waiver and a limit on frequency of waived adoptions per individual.

Samantha Bivens, a co‑presenter and veteran advocate, described personal and constituent experiences with veterans who have benefited from companion animals. "To some, SB325 is just an animal bill, but when you really read the language, it has the ability to accomplish so much," Bivens said, adding the measure could "decrease the euthanasia rates for shelter dogs and cats and reduce shelter operational costs, while simultaneously benefiting military service members, veterans, law enforcement officers, and first responders who are suffering from PTSD, depression, and anxiety by providing them with an animal companion." Bivens cited 2024 shelter statistics and Veterans Administration data during her testimony.

Committee members asked for clarifications about eligibility language. Assemblymember Flanagan asked about a referenced "6‑month" provision. Senator Donate and Ms. Bivens explained the bill's language: one provision prioritizes animals older than six months that have been in a shelter for at least seven consecutive days; a separate provision limits an individual to one waived adoption within a six‑month period. Sponsor and county representatives said those elements came from local shelter and county recommendations to prioritize longer‑stay animals and protect shelter finances.

Supporters included municipal shelter staff and city government representatives from Henderson, Las Vegas and Washoe County; David Cherry, government affairs manager for Henderson, said the bill "honors our first responders, our veterans" and could help place more animals into homes, easing shelter capacity constraints. Penny Lambright of Patriots and Paws (calling from California) also testified in support and described the California Pets for Vets model as the inspiration for the Nevada proposal.

Ending: The committee received no opposition testimony in this hearing. Witnesses and the sponsor said the bill is enabling and structured to allow smaller shelters or jurisdictions to opt in only "to the extent that funding is available." The transcript records the hearing and questions but no committee vote during this session.