Nevada Senate Judiciary Committee Hears SB 60 to Increase Penalties for Crimes Targeting Seniors

Carson City — Senators on the Nevada Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 60 on whether to expand criminal penalty enhancements for offenses committed against older adults and other vulnerable persons.

The bill, presented by Dr. Marilyn Jordan, vice president of the Nevada Silver Haired Legislative Forum, would add residential burglary, home invasion, forgery, fraud, larceny/theft and deceptive trade practices to the list of crimes that carry additional penalties when committed against people age 60 or older. "Senate Bill 60 increases protections for seniors and vulnerable individuals against financial and physical harm by deterring criminals from targeting them," Jordan told the committee.

SB 60 would also raise the minimum imprisonment terms in certain cases to two to 20 years when a residential burglary or home invasion causes death or serious injury, prohibit parole or early release until a person has paid at least 80 percent of court-ordered restitution for covered crimes, and add the listed offenses to civil-penalty liability.

Why it matters: Supporters said the measure responds to a large and growing problem. Jordan cited data presented to the Forum that Nevada seniors lost more than $113,000,000 in 2023 to fraud, and that crimes against elderly people in Las Vegas rose by more than 50 percent through November 2024 compared with 2023. "Nevada ranks third in the nation for seniors becoming targets of fraud and scams," she said.

Supporters across law enforcement and labor said enhanced punishments would create a deterrent and reflect the severe harms of scams and violent home invasions. Jennifer Noble of the Nevada District Attorneys Association said the group supports the bill and offered to help refine language. Jason Woodard of the Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association said, "these impacts are devastating to our elder community," and called for accountability. Several unions and senior organizations — including the Nevada AFL-CIO, the Senior Coalition of Washoe County and the Retired Public Employees of Nevada — also testified in support and recounted local scam and fraud incidents.

Opponents, principally public defenders, said the bill lacks a required element showing the offender knew the victim was a senior or otherwise vulnerable. Angela Knott of the Washoe County Public Defender's Office testified, "This bill will not deter conduct. SB 60 is about punishment... this bill fails to provide a knowingly or specific intent element as to a victim's age or circumstances." Paloma Guerrero of the Clark County Public Defender's Office echoed those concerns and warned the measure could produce disproportionately long sentences for nonviolent offenses when combined with enhancements.

Committee questions and staff comments: Committee members pressed about whether offenders must know a victim's age and about how the enhancement interacts with existing statutes. Chief Deputy Attorney General Mark Krueger said in his experience "the majority of time... individuals have targeted these people" and explained that many frauds and deceptive trade practices typically target older adults knowingly. He also referenced existing law, NRS 193.167, noting enhancements already apply to murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping and similar violent offenses and that SB 60 would expand that list. Patrick Ashton of the Legislative Counsel Bureau staff said the Forum's intent was to target crimes committed "knowingly and willfully" against seniors, and staff could work with the Forum if the committee wanted language changes.

Questions also focused on restitution. Senator Lisonbee asked how courts could collect 80 percent restitution when many offenders lack resources; Krueger acknowledged collection is difficult and that the provision is intended as both a deterrent and to signal the legislature's intent to prioritize restitution.

Outcome and next steps: The hearing was informational and public testimony was received; no committee vote or amendment was recorded on the transcript. Proponents and opponents asked staff to return if the committee seeks drafting changes, particularly to add a specific knowledge or intent element for the victim's age.

Ending note: Supporters urged the committee to consider the bill as a response to growing fraud and violent crime targeting older Nevadans; defenders urged caution about increasing prison exposure for nonviolent offenses without clear intent requirements.