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AB 419

Educational equity: immigration enforcement.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Damon Connolly

AB 419 aims to streamline Nevada's water application process, ensuring timely decisions and transparency while balancing the needs of new applicants and existing rights holders.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 663, Statutes of 2025.
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Bill Summary · AB 419

Summary of Assembly Bill 419 (AB 419)

Bill Number: AB 419
Title: Revises provisions relating to water. (BDR 48-736)
Status: No further action taken.
Introduced: March 13, 2025
Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

Assembly Bill 419 aims to revise the processes and regulations governing water applications in Nevada. The bill seeks to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and consistency of the State Engineer's decision-making regarding water rights and applications, while also addressing the needs of both applicants and existing rights holders.

Key Provisions

AB 419 includes several significant changes to existing water law, including:

  1. Pre-Application Review Process:

    • The State Engineer is required to establish a pre-application review process, allowing prospective applicants to meet with the State Engineer to identify potential issues before formally submitting an application.

  2. Preliminary Determination:

    • The State Engineer must issue a preliminary determination on applications and any protests within 150 days of the last publication of the application notice.
    • Applicants and protestants can file objections to this preliminary determination within 30 days.

  3. Hearing Procedures:

    • If an objection is filed, a hearing must be held within 120 days after receipt of the objection.
    • The State Engineer is required to approve or reject applications within one year after issuing a preliminary determination if no objections are filed, or within 240 days after a hearing if objections are present.

  4. Biennial Reporting:

    • The State Engineer must submit a biennial report to the Legislature detailing applications pending approval for two or more years.

  5. Judicial Review Changes:

    • The bill removes the presumption that decisions by the State Engineer are prima facie correct, altering the standard of judicial review.

  6. Application of the Nevada Administrative Procedure Act:

    • The State Engineer will be subject to the Nevada Administrative Procedure Act for regulatory processes, enhancing public participation and transparency.

Affected Parties

  • Applicants: Individuals or entities seeking to appropriate water or change existing water rights.
  • Existing Rights Holders: Current water rights holders who may be affected by new applications.
  • Public Interest Groups: Organizations concerned with water resource management and environmental impacts.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill was introduced on March 13, 2025, and has undergone several amendments and discussions within the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
  • As of June 3, 2025, no further action has been taken on the bill, indicating a potential halt in its progress.

Opposition and Support

The bill has faced opposition from various stakeholders, including:
- Great Basin Water Network: Expressed concerns that the bill favors applicants over existing rights holders and lacks adequate safeguards for public interest.
- Truckee Meadows Water Authority: Raised issues about the potential inefficiencies and increased workload for the State Engineer's office.

Conversely, some stakeholders, including legal professionals and water management advocates, support the bill for its potential to streamline processes and enhance fairness in water rights adjudication.

Conclusion

AB 419 represents a significant attempt to reform Nevada's water application processes, aiming to balance the needs of new applicants with the rights of existing users and the public interest. However, its future remains uncertain due to ongoing debates and concerns regarding its implications for water resource management in the state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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