WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

AB 418

Relating to: visitation of a long-term care facility resident or hospital patient during a communicable disease outbreak.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elijah Behnke and 11 co-sponsors

AB 418 requires Nevada counties and cities to mandate pet-handling training for commercial/rescue handlers, renewed every 2 years; vets and shelters exempt; effective Oct 1, 2025.

Representative Moses added as a coauthor
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 418

AB 418 — Summary (BDR 20-849)

Status: Enacted (Chaptered). Introduced: March 13, 2025. Sponsors: Assemblymembers Hibbetts, Hardy; Nguyen.

Main purpose

AB 418 requires every county board of commissioners and every incorporated city governing body in Nevada to adopt a local ordinance requiring most commercial and institutional handlers of household pets to complete a prescribed training course on handling pets, and to renew that training biennially. The bill is intended to standardize and improve the handling of pets in commercial/rescue settings.

Key provisions

  • Mandate to adopt ordinances:
    • Each county (Chapter 244, NRS) and each incorporated city (Chapter 268, NRS) must adopt an ordinance requiring specified owners/operators to complete a pet-handling training course prescribed by the governing body.
    • The ordinance must also prescribe how the training is completed and how biennial renewal is achieved.
  • Covered entities (examples listed in the bill):
    • Kennels
    • Animal rescue organizations that handle pets
    • Commercial establishments engaged in the business of handling pets, including breeders, catteries, retailers, pet groomers, and dealers
  • Definition of “pet”: the bill adopts the NRS definition — a domestic cat or dog commonly kept for pleasure.
  • Exemptions:
    • Veterinarians and veterinary staff operating under the supervision of a veterinarian
    • Animal shelters
    • Nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to shelter the pets of victims of domestic violence
  • Implementation timing:
    • Sections authorizing adoption of ordinances may be used immediately upon passage for regulatory and preparatory tasks.
    • Sections 1 and 2 (ordinance requirements) become fully effective on October 1, 2025 (per reprint language).
  • Fiscal and legal provisions:
    • The act states that NRS 354.599 (standard state/local fiscal requirement) does not apply to additional local government expenses related to the act.
    • Fiscal note: may have a fiscal impact on local governments; the bill contains an unfunded mandate.

Who is affected

  • Primary: owners/operators of kennels, commercial pet businesses (breeders, groomers, retailers, dealers, catteries), and animal rescue organizations that handle pets — they will be required by their local jurisdiction to complete/renew training.
  • Secondary: county and city governments — required to adopt ordinances, define required course content/process, and administer/oversee compliance; may incur administrative costs.
  • Exempted entities: veterinarians and their supervised staff, animal shelters, and specified nonprofit shelters for domestic violence victims.

Legislative/timeline highlights

  • Introduced March 13, 2025. Underwent amendments (including clarifying “pets,” adding exemptions for veterinary staff and domestic violence shelters, and other technical changes).
  • Passed both houses (recorded unanimous or no-nay tallies in committee and floor actions in the available history).
  • Final enactment: bill chaptered and approved by the Governor; ordinances may be prepared immediately, and the local ordinance requirements take full effect October 1, 2025 (see bill reprint for exact effective-date language).

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Local governments will need to adopt and implement ordinances, determine or approve course curricula and delivery methods, and enforce compliance — creating administrative and possible financial burdens at the local level.
  • Businesses and organizations covered will incur training time and possibly training-cost obligations; the biennial renewal requirement establishes an ongoing compliance duty.
  • The bill excludes veterinarians, their supervised staff, animal shelters, and domestic-violence-related pet shelters to reduce interference with clinical operations and sensitive shelter services.

For full text, definitions, and exact statutory placement, see the bill reprints adding sections to Chapters 244 and 268 of NRS (AB 418, First/Second Reprint).

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

Sign in to ask a question.