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AB 57

Revises provisions relating to the Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid System. (BDR 36-263)

2025 Regular Session

AB 57 assigns wildfire mutual aid coordination to the Division of Forestry while other emergencies remain under Emergency Management, clarifying roles and reimbursement.

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 102.
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Bill Summary · AB 57

AB 57 — Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid System (BDR 36‑263)

Status: Enacted (Chapter 102, 2025; approved by the Governor)
Introduced: December 2, 2024
Sponsor: Committee on Government Affairs (on behalf of the Division of Forestry, Department of Conservation & Natural Resources)

Purpose / Intent

AB 57 revises Nevada’s statutory framework for the Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid System to clarify and split administrative responsibilities between the Division of Emergency Management (Office of the Military) and the Division of Forestry (State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) for responses to different types of emergencies, with a specific focus on wildfire suppression.

Key provisions

  • Division definitions: Adds a statutory definition for “Division of Forestry” and clarifies the meaning of “Division of Emergency Management.”
  • Division-specific administration:
    • The Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid System is to be administered by:
    • The Chief of the Division of Emergency Management for mutual aid coordination for all emergencies and disasters other than wildfire suppression; and
    • The State Forester Firewarden (Division of Forestry) for mutual aid coordination related to wildfire suppression.
    • Each official is given parallel duties for their domain, including coordinating mutual aid, maintaining records of requests and responses, identifying and inventorying available personnel and equipment, providing reimbursement assistance, and adopting regulations applicable to their area (general emergencies vs. wildfire suppression).
  • Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee:
    • Establishes the Chief of the Division of Emergency Management and the State Forester Firewarden as Co‑Chairs of the Committee.
    • Requires committee members to be jointly appointed by the two Co‑Chairs.
    • The Committee advises both Co‑Chairs on intrastate mutual aid and emergency management issues.
  • Mutual aid participation and requests:
    • Requires that a public agency or federally recognized Indian tribe that withdraws from or joins the System provide a copy of its resolution to both the Division of Emergency Management and the Division of Forestry.
    • Allows participants to request mutual aid through the Division of Forestry for wildfire suppression and through the Division of Emergency Management for other emergencies; such requests must be documented and reported to the appropriate division.
  • Reimbursement facilitation and liability:
    • Authorizes the Division of Forestry, in addition to the Division of Emergency Management, to facilitate reimbursements to System participants for mutual aid related to wildfire suppression.
    • Grants the Division of Forestry immunity from liability for claims relating to reimbursements (parallel to existing immunity for the Division of Emergency Management).

Who is affected

  • State agencies: Division of Forestry; Division of Emergency Management; Office of the Military; Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
  • Local government and public agencies that participate in the Intrastate Mutual Aid System (including fire districts and local emergency management agencies).
  • Federally recognized Indian tribes/nations inside Nevada that participate in the System.
  • Incident response personnel and mutual aid coordinators (changes in routing, recordkeeping, and reimbursement channels).

Procedural / Implementation notes

  • The bill separates wildfire suppression authority from other emergency authorities to align subject‑matter expertise and operational control.
  • Requires joint governance of the Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee and joint notification/recordkeeping for participant actions and requests.
  • Fiscal note in committee materials: effect on state government (yes); no effect on local government reported. Actual budget impacts will depend on implementation and any administrative/regulatory activity that follows.

Expected impact

  • Clarifies command and administrative responsibility for wildfire mutual aid, which may improve coordination during wildfire response and recovery.
  • Introduces parallel reimbursement and administrative processes in the Division of Forestry for wildfire events, which could change how local responders seek and document aid and reimbursement.
  • Places emphasis on joint governance to ensure coordination between wildfire‑specific and general emergency management systems.

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

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