Busy, Busy, Busy: Over 100 New Nevada Laws Went Into Effect This Week
As has been noted, over 100 new laws went into effect in the state of Nevada on October 1, 2023. All things considered, it appears the Nevada State Legislature and Governor Joe Lombardo have been keeping very busy. The new laws tackle prison reform, the rising use of fentanyl, animal cruelty, homelessness, and various other topics.
Nevada State Legislature Tackles Prison Reform And Fentanyl Epidemic
To be exact, 106 bills were passed during the 2023 legislative session. Consequently, new laws went into effect on October 1st, according to an article by C.C. McCandless on Fox5Vegas.com.
Surely, you’ve been hearing, reading, or watching reports of the rising epidemic of deaths due to the use of synthetic opioid fentanyl. Now, our state’s governor and legislature are cracking down and issuing higher penalties for trafficking in, or possessing, this dangerous drug. Currently, federal laws penalize fentanyl traffickers with minimum sentences of five to ten years for possessing or selling 40-100 grams of this opioid. Henceforth, Nevada’s new law increases penalties up to 15 years in prison.
Meanwhile, the Nevada legislature has also put new guidelines in place affecting the use of jailhouse informants by prosecutors. For example, the prosecutor must disclose an informant’s criminal history. Furthermore, the jury will know about prior cases in which he or she testified. Additionally, the prosecutor must list any benefits the informant receives in exchange for testimony.
Our state’s governing body also put into effect new guidelines for the treatment of pregnant female prisoners. For instance, there will be more “medical and behavioral health services for pregnant women,” according to the Fox5News.com post. Furthermore, during delivery and postpartum time periods, the use of less restrictive restraints for these female prisoners will be in place.
New Laws: Trick Driving, Catalytic Converter Theft, Animal Cruelty
As of October 1, 2023, law enforcement now has the authority to remove dangerous “trick driving” vehicles from the road. Moreover, there are now stiffer penalties for reckless driving. McCandless’s article goes on to report that a new law calls for a penalty of one to five years in prison for having a stolen catalytic converter in one’s possession.
Nevada’s canine population gets a break on the the length of time in restraints. In fact, the new law requires that a dog may not be put into restraints for more than 10 hours a day. There are other provisions in the bill regarding the treatment of animals.
If you’d like to see a comprehensive list of the new laws now in effect, click here.
