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AB 421

Relating to: prohibiting rights of nature ordinances. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elijah Behnke and 7 co-sponsors

Immunity from civil liability is granted to unpaid volunteer security personnel and their religious organizations for non-reckless acts in security duties, effective for actions fi

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Bill Summary · AB 421

AB 421 — Summary (Introduced 02/05/2025)

Short description

AB 421 would create statutory immunity from civil liability for volunteer security personnel of a religious organization (and for the religious organization for acts of those volunteers) when the volunteers are providing safety, security, or protection services, so long as they act within the scope of their volunteer duties and their acts or omissions are not reckless, wanton, or grossly negligent. The bill also makes a conforming change to NRS 41.480 and specifies the amendatory provisions apply to civil actions filed on or after October 1, 2025.

Note: The printed bill packet includes an unrelated legislative-digest excerpt concerning California immigration-enforcement restrictions. The operative bill text and enactment language included here are for Nevada (NRS Chapter 41) and concern civil‑liability immunity for volunteer security personnel of religious organizations.

Main purpose and intent

To extend (in addition to existing volunteer immunities) a clear, statutory shield from civil damages to unpaid volunteers who provide security services for places of worship and to the religious organizations that use such volunteers, except where misconduct rises to reckless, wanton, or grossly negligent conduct.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new section to Chapter 41, NRS:
    • Grants immunity from civil liability to volunteer security personnel of a religious organization for injury or damage caused by their acts or omissions if:
    • they are acting within the scope of their duties/responsibilities as volunteer security personnel; and
    • their acts or omissions are not reckless, wanton, or grossly negligent.
    • Grants the religious organization immunity for acts/omissions of its volunteer security personnel performed on its behalf under the same conditions.
    • Defines:
    • “Religious organization” as an organization whose primary purpose is operating a church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other place of religious worship where services/activities are regularly conducted.
    • “Volunteer security personnel” as persons who provide safety/security/protection services without compensation (except reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses) to protect attendees or property during services, meetings, classes, or gatherings.
  • Amends NRS 41.480 (conforming change).
  • Applicability: the amendatory provisions apply to civil actions filed on or after October 1, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: unpaid volunteer security personnel at religious organizations and the religious organizations that engage them.
  • Potentially affected parties: persons who might bring civil claims arising from security-related incidents at religious facilities, insurers, and attorneys handling related civil litigation.

Limitations and exclusions

  • Immunity does not apply to acts that are reckless, wanton, or grossly negligent, nor to intentional, willful, or malicious conduct.
  • Does not alter existing liability rules for nonprofit corporations beyond the conforming statutory edit.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal note in the bill packet: no effect on state or local government.
  • Legislative actions (selected):
    • Introduced 02/05/2025; referred to Judiciary (and Public Safety) committees.
    • Committee hearings were set and later canceled at the author’s request (March–April 2025).
    • 04/12/2025: Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed (bill is not advancing).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Likely to reduce exposure to civil lawsuits against individual unpaid security volunteers and the religious organizations that engage them, potentially lowering defense and liability costs.
  • Plaintiffs retain claims for conduct qualifying as reckless, wanton, grossly negligent, or intentional wrongdoing.
  • Insurance coverage, volunteer training standards, and deployment policies at religious organizations may be important factors in how the immunity operates in practice.

If you want, I can prepare a side‑by‑side comparison of the current NRS text and the bill’s changes, or draft a short FAQ on how the immunity might apply in common factual scenarios.

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

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