Monday, Governor Joe Lombardo introduced the Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act. Senate Bill 457, a comprehensive public safety overhaul, aims to get tougher on everything from theft to fentanyl trafficking.
The proposal would bring major changes to how Nevada handles criminals, especially repeat offenders.
I was grateful to have the support of Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong, Churchill Co. Sheriff Richard Hickox, Storey Co. Sheriff Mike Cullen, Washoe Co. Sheriff Darin Balaam, Washoe Co. DA Chris Hicks, and DPS Director George Togliatti as I presented my public safety bill today. pic.twitter.com/cy6gZDon3v
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) April 8, 2025
Tackling the Fentanyl Crisis
The deadly opioid fentanyl has devastated families across Nevada. The Governor’s bill takes direct aim at this crisis by creating a three-tiered system for fentanyl trafficking:
The new law would establish entry-level trafficking charges for lower quantities, mid-level trafficking for medium-scale dealers, and high-level trafficking for major traffickers or those with large amounts. This approach gives prosecutors more tools to match the punishment to the crime.
The bill doesn’t stop at just punishing dealers. It requires law enforcement and correctional facilities to work hand-in-hand with the Department of Health and Human Services on treatment programs for people with opioid addiction. This includes medication-assisted treatment within jails and prisons.
Getting Tough on Repeat Offenders
For too long, career criminals have cycled through Nevada’s justice system. The bill aims to stop this revolving door by:
- Lowering the felony theft threshold from $1,200 to $750, bringing Nevada more in line with neighboring states
- Redefining “habitual offender” to apply after just 2 or 3 felony convictions instead of the current 5 to 7
- Adding a 1-20 year sentence for someone who commits a new felony while out on bail for another felony
- Requiring pretrial release hearings within 72 hours
Modernizing Crime Laws for Today’s World
The bill brings Nevada’s criminal statutes into the 21st century by expanding stalking laws to cover electronic communications and social media, increasing penalties for stalking minors, treating each image in child pornography cases as a separate felony, and requiring compliance hearings after firearm surrender orders.
For school safety, the bill requires mental health evaluations for violent acts against school employees and permits up to 200 hours of community service.
Tougher DUI Penalties
The bill strengthens Nevada’s approach to drunk and impaired driving by:
- Adding penalties for DUIs during active substance treatment programs
- Allowing DUI causing death to be charged as second-degree murder
- Tightening enforcement for repeat DUI offenders
These changes give prosecutors stronger tools in cases where impaired drivers cause deaths or serious injuries, potentially leading to much longer sentences for the worst offenders.
Targeting Property Crimes
Another key component addresses repeat property crime offenders through upgraded charges for criminals who repeatedly steal from businesses and individuals.
The bill allows prosecutors to combine the value of multiple stolen items to reach felony thresholds and increases penalties for criminals who damage businesses during thefts, addressing the total harm done to business owners who face both losses and repair costs.
Today, I’m announcing the Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act, a tough-on-crime bill that cracks down on repeat offenders, strengthens fentanyl penalties, and restores accountability to Nevada’s justice system. pic.twitter.com/x9X1IFrjmo
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) April 8, 2025
Balancing Punishment with Treatment
While the bill gets tougher on crime, it also recognizes the role of addiction and mental health issues. The Fund for a Resilient Nevada could be used for training law enforcement in trauma-informed practices and funding medication-assisted treatment programs for opioid recovery.
However, the bill draws a line by making offenders of child abuse or elder abuse ineligible for some mental health or substance use diversion programs.
The Road Ahead
The bill now faces committee hearings and possible amendments before it can become law. With Democrats controlling the legislature and Lombardo being a Republican governor, the final version may look different than what was introduced this week.
If passed, law enforcement agencies would begin implementing these changes later this year, giving prosecutors new tools to hold repeat offenders accountable and address the fentanyl crisis.
What You Can Do
If you support these changes to Nevada’s criminal justice system, here’s how you can help:
- Contact your state representatives to share your thoughts on the bill.
- Attend legislative hearings where the bill will be discussed.
The Governor’s comprehensive proposal represents a significant shift in how Nevada would handle criminal justice. Whether it passes in its current form or gets modified along the way, the debate shows that public safety remains a top concern for many Nevadans.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
