Published: December 31, 2025 | NevadaAffairs.com
As the clock strikes midnight tonight, a wave of new Nevada laws will take effect on January 1, 2026. These changes stem from the 2025 regular legislative session and the November special session, where Governor Joe Lombardo signed key bipartisan measures focused on public safety, consumer protection, health care, and more. While not every bill from the sessions starts in 2026, several significant ones do—aiming to address everyday issues for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most impactful new laws and what they could mean for you.
1. Cracking Down on Impaired Driving: Harsher DUI Penalties
One of the standout public safety reforms is Assembly Bill 4 (AB4), dubbed the “Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act.” This bill significantly toughens penalties for DUI cases involving death or serious injury, including extending marijuana impairment standards to felony-level crashes.
What changes? Drivers convicted in fatal or severe-injury DUIs face steeper consequences, aligning Nevada more closely with evolving standards on impairment.
Impact on you:If you’re on the road, this could deter dangerous driving and enhance safety, especially in a state with high tourism and traffic. For those facing charges, it means potentially harsher outcomes—consult legal experts if affected.
This was a priority in the special session, reflecting concerns over road safety amid growing population and events.
2. Cleaning Up Food Delivery Apps
Tired of ghost kitchens or fake restaurant listings on apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats? A new law requires third-party food delivery platforms to verify that restaurants have valid business licenses and health permits before listing them.
What changes? Platforms must confirm legitimate operations, reducing fraudulent or unauthorized listings.
Impact on you: Consumers get more reliable service and safer food options. Restaurants benefit from fairer competition, while apps face new compliance responsibilities. This addresses complaints about “virtual” kitchens proliferating without proper oversight.
3. AI in Politics: Mandatory Disclosures
Heading into the 2026 election cycle, Nevada is tackling deepfakes and AI-generated content in campaigns. New rules require political advertisements to disclose if images, video, or audio have been digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence.
What changes? Clear labeling for AI-altered content in ads.
Impact on you: Voters gain better tools to spot misinformation, promoting transparency in an era of rapid tech advancement. Candidates and campaigns must adapt, potentially reducing deceptive tactics.
4. Strengthening Contraception Protections
The “Right to Contraception Act” bolsters safeguards, making it harder for state or local governments to restrict access to contraceptives and family planning services.
What changes? Enhanced legal protections, with rights to challenge any burdensome restrictions.
Impact on you: Greater assurance for individuals seeking reproductive health care, especially amid national debates. Health providers and patients in Nevada can rely on stronger state-level defenses.
Other health-related updates include streamlining Medicaid enrollment for new mothers and babies, and joining an interstate compact for easier cross-state practice by licensed counselors.
5. Unemployment Insurance Adjustments
A quieter but important change: The taxable wage base for unemployment insurance rises to **$43,700** (up from $41,800 in 2025).
What changes? Employers pay UI taxes on a higher portion of wages.
Impact on you: Businesses may see slightly higher costs, potentially passed on indirectly. Employees could benefit from a more robust UI fund if needed, though the direct effect is on payroll taxes.
Other Notable Mentions
– Expanded newborn screenings for rare diseases, with adjusted fees to align with national standards.
– Safety rules for bounce house rentals (inspired by past tragedies), requiring insurance and wind limits.
– Various administrative and education tweaks, like higher education regent training.
Not all 2025 session bills kick in now—some started earlier in 2025, and others (like doubled school zone penalties) arrive mid-2026. Governor Lombardo vetoed 87 bills overall but signed these targeted reforms, emphasizing bipartisan wins on safety and access.
These laws reflect Nevada’s balancing act: boosting protections in a fast-growing state while navigating tourism, tech, and economic pressures. Whether you’re ordering takeout, voting, driving, or planning a family, keep an eye on how these play out in the new year.
