New Nevada Laws Take Effect October 1st

Thanks to the 2009 session of the Nevada Legislature, around 150 new laws take effect on October 1st. Many of them are somewhat obscure and don't much concern the everyday lives of citizens, but there are some worth noting as we carry on with being Nevadans.

Renters & Foreclosed Homes: With Assembly Bill (AB) 140, owners of homes being foreclosed must give renters 60 days notice to vacate - no more being forced to move at a moments notice. The same measure also requires the owners of foreclosed homes to maintain the property and gives cities the power to levy $1000 per day fines if they fail to do so.

DMV Fees: New residents who don't register their vehicles in Nevada within 30 days will see the fine doubled for such neglect. Henceforth, the toll will be $1000. People who maintain vehicle registration in another state, like Oregon, because it's cheaper are going to be paying if they get caught.

Domestic Partnership: Under Senate Bill (SB) 283 (the Nevada Domestic Partnership Act), certificates of domestic partnership will be available to couples living together regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Straight or gay, same or opposite sex, Nevada couples who register as domestic partners will now be recognized as a unit and extended rights similar to those held by married couples. SB 283 was passed over a veto by Governor Jim Gibbons.

Animal Laws: SB 132 makes it illegal to leave a dog chained up for more than 14 hours a day and the tether must be at least 12 feet long. AB 199 fixes an egregious omission in Nevada law - it is now illegal possess or sell fighting animals, and to participate in animal fighting events even as a spectator. AB 15 makes it illegal to separate puppies and kittens from their mothers before eight weeks of age, among other provisions.

Nevada State Insect - Vivid Dancer Damselfly: This provision corrects a glaring hole in the inventory of Nevada state symbols. The vivid dancer damsel fly is now the state insect and takes its place with the state fossil (ichthyosaur), state trees (pinion pine and bristlecone pine), and numerous others.

Refer to the Nevada Legislature website for a complete list of all bills passed during the 75th (2009) session.

Sources: Nevada Legislature, Reno Gazette-Journal, Fox News.

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