Nevada 988 Coalition Support
Jun 15, 2025
Two key bills were passed in the 2025 legislative session to strengthen Nevada's behavioral health care system, while several other proposed bills were not approved by the end of the session.
The 2025 legislative session ended with two important bills to strengthen Nevada's behavioral health care system being approved by the Legislature and Governor.
AB 60 addresses certification and regulation of certified prevention specialists and peer recovery support specialists, with a goal of improving the professionalism and safety of behavioral health services by ensuring that individuals working in these roles meet specific qualifications and standards. It prohibits minors from serving as such specialists, mandates background checks and certification requirements, and sets procedures for investigating misconduct. Full text: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bill/11860/Text.
AB 163 enters Nevada into the Counseling Compact for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors. The law takes effect January 1, 2026. Nevada will join the other 38 member jurisdictions to allow Licensed Professional Counselors the ability to seek the privilege to practice in the other Compact Member States. This will increase the pool of these mental health professionals that are available to practice in Nevada. Full text as enrolled: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bill/12113/Text#.
Three other bills sponsored by Nevada's Regional Behavioral Health Policy Boards did not get through the legislative gauntlet before the end of the session. These were SB 68 to enter Nevada into the interstate licensure compact for licensed social workers (LSWs, LMSWs, and LCSWs), AB 31 to allow Medicaid reimbursement for providers of nonemergency behavioral health transport services, and SB 47 to study the parity between insurance coverage for behavioral health care and coverage for other medical care.