2025 Legislative Session Wrap-Up: A Big Win for Nevada’s Autism Community!

The 83rd Nevada Legislative Session came to a close just before midnight on June 2 — and what a session it was! From long days at the Capitol to passionate testimony and powerful storytelling, this session brought real, meaningful progress for individuals and families impacted by autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Before we dive into the legislative wins, we want to offer a heartfelt thank you to all of you — the parents, professionals, advocates, and allies — who wrote letters, gave public comment, made calls, and stood up for our community. Your voices made a real difference and helped bring important legislation across the finish line.

Here’s a quick look at what passed — and what it means for our community: 

SB257: Breaking Down Barriers to Autism Diagnosis

We did it! SB257 has officially passed!

This game-changing bill removes unnecessary red tape that has long delayed autism diagnoses for Nevada children. With the passing of SB257, families will now have faster, fairer, and more equitable access to evaluations — meaning more kids can receive the early interventions they need to thrive.

Why it matters:

·       Reduces wait times for diagnosis

·       Helps children access life-changing services sooner

·       Supports providers in delivering care without outdated restrictions

This is a huge win for families, providers, and most importantly — Nevada’s kids.

Stay tuned for more on how SB257 will impact autism care in our state!

SB380: Law Enforcement Training for Autism Awareness

SB380 is now law!

This bill ensures that peace officers across Nevada receive training on how to appropriately and compassionately interact with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Here’s what the new training will cover:

·       Understanding how autism presents in different people

·       Using calm, safe approaches during interviews and emergencies

·       Recognizing autism behaviors (not mislabeling them as aggression)

·       De-escalating tense situations with empathy and knowledge

·       Improving safety and outcomes in correctional settings

This legislation makes our communities safer and more inclusive by equipping law enforcement with the tools they need to serve everyone with understanding and respect.

SB140: Supporting Justice-Involved Youth with Neurobehavioral Needs

SB140 has been signed into law!

This forward-thinking legislation expands an existing juvenile court program (originally created for children with autism) to now include youth diagnosed with — or suspected to have — neurobehavioral conditions such as:

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)

What this means in practice:

·       Children will receive evaluations to identify neurodevelopmental needs

·       Youth can be directed to specialized treatment programs rather than traditional penalties

·       More justice-involved kids will receive support and care — not just punishment

This is a compassionate step toward a more informed and effective juvenile justice system.

Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead

The 2025 legislative session was a huge success for Nevada’s neurodivergent community — but our work isn’t done.

Even though not all of the bills we supported made it across the finish line, they were heard — and that matters. The conversations happened. Legislators listened. Our community’s voice was loud and clear: there is a growing need and desire for meaningful change to better support individuals with autism, FASD, and related conditions across Nevada.

We’ll continue to keep you updated on the broader impacts of the new laws and how they’ll be implemented across the state. In the meantime, let’s celebrate these wins and the power of community-driven advocacy. Thank you for being part of this movement — change truly happens when we show up together.

Stay tuned — more progress to come!