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AB 553

Transfers the Division of Emergency Management of the Office of the Military to the Office of the Governor. (BDR 18-1126)

2025 Regular Session

Shifts Nevada’s Division of Emergency Management from the Adjutant General to the Governor’s Office, renames it the Office of Emergency Management, centralizing civilian oversight.

Chapter 279.
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Bill Summary · AB 553

AB 553 — Transfers Nevada’s Division of Emergency Management to the Office of the Governor (BDR 18‑1126)

Status: Chaptered (Chapter 38, Statutes of 2025). Approved by the Governor July 14, 2025.

Main purpose

AB 553 relocates Nevada’s Division of Emergency Management from the Office of the Military (Adjutant General) to the Office of the Governor, renames it the Office of Emergency Management, and makes related procedural, organizational, and statutory conforming changes. The bill centralizes civilian oversight of statewide emergency management functions under the Governor.

Key provisions and changes

  • Transfers the Division of Emergency Management (currently in the Office of the Military) to the Office of the Governor and renames it the Office of Emergency Management (conforming changes across multiple statutes and chapters, including Chapter 239C of NRS and NRS 414.040).
  • Reorganizes and clarifies the Office’s duties to execute, administer, and enforce existing state law provisions regarding emergency management and the Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid System.
  • Changes appointment and supervisory authority:
    • The Chief of the Office of Emergency Management is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor (replacing the prior requirement that the Adjutant General appoint the Chief).
    • The Governor (rather than the Adjutant General) supervises and controls certain emergency management activities, including administration of the Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid System.
  • Personnel authority:
    • Authorizes the Chief of the Office to employ personnel (including classified‑service employees) necessary to carry out duties of the Office and related commissions where statutorily provided.
  • Conforming edits and cross‑references:
    • Revises multiple statutes to replace references to the Division/Office of the Military with the Office of Emergency Management within the Office of the Governor (affecting laws concerning the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security, Nevada Resiliency Advisory Committee, Disaster Relief Account, emergency volunteer health practitioners, school emergency coordination, behavioral health emergency planning, and other provisions).
  • Repeals certain statutory provisions that previously defined the Division of Emergency Management and the Adjutant General’s authority to appoint its Chief.

Who is affected

  • Office of the Military / Adjutant General: loses supervisory and appointment responsibilities over the Division.
  • Office of the Governor: gains direct control and supervisory authority of statewide emergency management functions.
  • Office of Emergency Management (new organizational home): will assume duties, staff, and responsibilities formerly housed in the Office of the Military.
  • State agencies and advisory bodies that interact with emergency management (e.g., Nevada Commission on Homeland Security, Nevada Resiliency Advisory Committee, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services) — statutory recipients of plans, reports, or coordination — will instead coordinate with the Office under the Governor.
  • Local governments: bill indicates no direct effect on local government responsibilities, though coordination and mutual aid structures are affected at the state level.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal effect: bill records “Effect on the State: Yes” (state fiscal impact anticipated); “Effect on Local Government: No.”
  • Legislative history highlights:
    • Introduced/referred in committees through spring 2025.
    • Passed Assembly (75‑0) and Senate (35‑0).
    • Enrolled and presented to the Governor in July 2025; chaptered July 14, 2025.

Practical impact

AB 553 centralizes civilian oversight of Nevada’s emergency management function under the Governor, aligns appointment and supervision with executive leadership, and clarifies statutory authority for administering mutual aid and other emergency systems. The changes are primarily organizational and statutory; they may affect operational oversight, interagency coordination, and staffing within the state emergency management system.

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

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