Senate committee hears bill to let veterans, first responders adopt shelter pets without fees

Sen. Fabian Donate introduced Senate Bill 3 25 on the Senate Committee on Government Affairs to create a program allowing counties, incorporated cities and certain nonprofit shelters to waive adoption fees for veterans, law enforcement officers and first responders.

Donate, who represents Senate District 10 in Las Vegas, told the committee the bill “requires a governing body of a 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 law enforcement officer or first responder” and that the Department of Veterans Services would report to the Legislature on the programs’ use.

The measure traces its concept to California’s SB 245 (the Pets for Vets Act), which Donate said took effect in 2020 and prompted interest among Nevada veterans. Samantha Bivens, a co-presenter, told the committee that data and her work with veterans motivated the bill. “According to the Bridal Foundation shelter statistics for 2024, a total of 3,318 dogs and cats were euthanized last year,” Bivens said, and she cited Veterans Administration figures that she said showed 113 veteran suicides in Nevada in 2022. Bivens said pets can reduce symptoms of PTSD and improve veterans’ emotional and physical health.

Presenters and witnesses emphasized two changes made in a proposed conceptual amendment. First, the bill was changed from a mandatory directive to a permissive authorization: a county or city “may” establish a program rather than “shall.” Second, the amended language limits the waiver to animals at least 6 months old that have been in shelter care for at least seven consecutive days. Donate said those limits were in response to shelter cost concerns raised in meetings with the Bridal Foundation in Las Vegas and to make the program more practicable for local governments and shelters.

Officials and nonprofit representatives from across Nevada voiced support. David Cherry, government affairs manager for the City of Henderson’s animal shelter, said the city “is proud to support this bill.” Isaac Hardy of Humane World for Animals echoed the support. Penny Lambright, founder of Patriots and Paws (a nonprofit working with veterans), described the California law’s origin and urged passage in Nevada, saying the bill “will save money while saving two lives at once.”

Washoe and Clark county representatives testified in neutral, noting the amendment’s permissive approach removed an earlier fiscal note in Washoe County’s analysis. “This amendment does remove the fiscal note that Washoe County had originally submitted,” Cadence Matejevich of Washoe County told the committee. Jeff Rogan, representing Clark County, thanked the sponsor for the opt-in amendment.

The committee took no vote at the hearing and closed the record after testimony from Carson City, Las Vegas and the phone lines. Chair Flores closed the hearing on SB 3 25 with no recorded action.

The bill’s supporters recommended counties and cities that opt in return usage data to the Legislature so lawmakers can evaluate uptake and fiscal impacts. The final language as discussed would leave adoption-fee waivers to local option and require reporting to the Legislature from local governments that choose to adopt the program.

Key procedural notes: the committee limited testimony to two minutes per witness, and the sponsor requested that anyone testifying state their name for the record and provide a business card to the committee secretary if follow-up were needed.

Future steps: No vote occurred at the hearing; the bill remains before the Senate Government Affairs Committee pending any amendments and further committee action.