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SCR 5

Recognizes antimicrobial resistance as a public health crisis and encourages certain actions be taken in response. (BDR R-1234)

2025 Regular Session

Declares antimicrobial resistance a Nevada public health crisis and urges DHHS/Medicaid to adopt an antimicrobial stewardship program, education and collaboration; nonbinding.

Enrolled and delivered to Secretary of State. File No. 30.
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Bill Summary · SCR 5

Summary — SCR 5 (BDR R-1234)

Recognizes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a public health crisis and encourages certain actions be taken in response.

Purpose / Intent

SCR 5 declares antimicrobial resistance a public health crisis in Nevada and urges state action to slow the development and spread of resistant organisms. The resolution emphasizes awareness, stewardship, diagnostics, surveillance and collaboration among public and private stakeholders.

Key findings cited

  • Cites the CDC estimate of about 35,000 AMR-related deaths annually in the United States.
  • Notes a local antibiogram finding: MRSA rates in Washoe County increased from 32% (2022) to 36.2% (2023).
  • References a 2023 NIH report that identified MRSA as a leading cause of hospital‑acquired infections with higher morbidity, mortality, longer stays and increased costs.

Principal provisions / directives

SCR 5 is a concurrent resolution (policy statement) that:
- Recognizes AMR as requiring urgent and sustained legislative and public health attention.
- Encourages the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to integrate and administer, under Medicaid, an antimicrobial stewardship program. The enrolled language limits examples of program elements to items such as adhering to evidence‑based prescribing guidelines for antimicrobial drugs.
- Supports implementation and deployment of public educational campaigns about AMR, appropriate antibiotic use, and the role of diagnostics.
- Encourages the DHHS Director to facilitate collaboration among relevant public and private entities to promote awareness and coordinated efforts.
- Requests that copies of the resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the DHHS Director and the Administrator of the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy.

Amendments / changes of note

  • An amendment (first reprint / Amendment No. 895) removed an original “whereas” clause that attributed AMR to overuse/misuse of antibiotics across human medicine, veterinary practice and agriculture.
  • The amendment also struck earlier language that would have explicitly encouraged Medicaid to provide incentives to providers for using rapid diagnostic testing. The enrolled version retains encouragement of a Medicaid stewardship program but limits illustrative elements to evidence‑based prescribing guidance and omits endorsement of financial incentives for increased testing.
  • The proposed conceptual amendment (offered May 27, 2025) similarly described an intent to remove language that could be read as assigning blame to providers and to remove support for incentives tied to testing.

Who is affected / potential impact

  • Nevada DHHS and the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (Nevada Medicaid) are the principal public agencies referenced; providers and Medicaid beneficiaries would be the practical focus if DHHS implements programs in response.
  • The resolution does not itself appropriate funds or create binding regulatory requirements; it is an expression of legislative intent and encouragement. If DHHS acts on the resolution, potential outcomes could include: development of stewardship protocols under Medicaid, public education campaigns, enhanced collaboration and possibly new surveillance or data‑collection efforts. The enrolled text does not mandate incentives for providers.

Procedural / timeline highlights

  • Introduced: December 12, 2024.
  • Committee activity: considered by Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor and by the Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections (committee report dated May 22, 2025).
  • Adopted by the Legislature (various dates in spring 2025); rules suspension and amendments occurred in May 2025.
  • Enrolled and delivered to Secretary of State / File No. 30. Signed by the Governor (record shows a governor’s signature date in 2025).
  • Effective: the resolution states it becomes effective upon adoption. As a concurrent resolution, its legal effect is limited to guidance and expressions of legislative intent rather than binding law.

Limitations

  • SCR 5 is nonbinding; it does not appropriate funds, create statutory requirements or compel DHHS action. Any concrete programs, regulations, or incentives would require subsequent administrative action or legislation and, where appropriate, funding.

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

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