NevadaNevada law bars certain threats against candidates and reviews reports
Nevada law bars certain frightening threats against candidates and requires the Secretary of State to investigate written reports from candidates.
What it does
A person must not threaten a candidate with bodily injury or property damage when the threat causes reasonable fear and the other legal requirements are met. The rule protects constitutionally protected speech, including political exaggeration.
A candidate who reports a possible violation in writing gets an investigation and a written report. If the Secretary of State finds reasonable suspicion, the matter goes to the Attorney General to decide whether to bring a court case.
Argument forCandidates who report a possible violation could get an investigation and written results, helping them learn what officials found and whether the case went to the Attorney General.
Argument againstPeople accused of qualifying threats could face criminal penalties, which might make some people fear speaking freely despite the protection for constitutionally protected speech.
More detail
A person must not directly or indirectly threaten or intimidate a candidate in ways covered by this section. The threat must be directed at a candidate for public office and may target the candidate or a family member, or their property. The person must know or have reason to know that the threat communicates an intent to cause bodily injury or property damage, immediately or later. The threat must place its recipient in reasonable fear that it will be carried out. The section does not prohibit constitutionally protected speech, including political exaggeration. A first offense is a misdemeanor; a second or later offense is a gross misdemeanor.
The Secretary of State must investigate a candidate’s written report and provide a written report after the investigation. A candidate who believes they are the target of a threat or intimidation that violates the law may notify the Secretary of State in writing. If the Secretary finds reasonable suspicion of a violation, the Secretary must refer the matter to the Attorney General to decide whether to bring a court case. The Secretary of State must send the written report after the investigation ends and make any referral as soon as practicable.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 11Chapter 517.Latest
- Jun 10Approved by the Governor Joe Lombardo.Became Law
- Jun 4Enrolled and delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Jun 1In Assembly. To enrollment.Major
- May 31Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 13, Nays: 8.) To Assembly. Action of passage reconsidered. Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 14, Nays: 7.) To Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Senate (2nd Reprint). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Senate (2nd Reprint) (2). Result: pass.Upper
- May 30From committee: Do pass. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time.Minor
- May 29From printer. To reengrossment. Reengrossed. Second reprint. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 27, Nays: 15.) To Senate. In Senate. Read first time. Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections. To committee.Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded Assembly (2nd Reprint). Result: pass.Lower
- May 28From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on General File. Read third time. Amended. (Amend. No. 868.) To printer.Minor
- Apr 17From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. To committee.
- Apr 16Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 104.) Taken from General File. Rereferred to Committee on Ways and Means. To printer.Minor
- Apr 15From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.Minor
- Apr 3Notice of exemption.
- Feb 4Read first time. To committee.Minor
- Jan 28From printer.
- Jan 27Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections. To printer.Introduced
Criminal JusticeCivil Rights & Voting