November 14, 2025 - New Proposed Regulation Affecting Board of Registration

NALS is alerting our members to a new regulatory proposal that may impact the governance and independence of the Nevada Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (NVBPELS). The Department of Business and Industry through its Office of Nevada Boards, Commissions, and Councils Standards has introduced LCB File No. R074-25, a new set of regulations establishing standardized oversight and reporting procedures for all occupational licensing boards.

This effort is closely connected to SB 78, which NALS strongly opposed last year. Like SB 78, this proposal also originates from the Department of Business and Industry and raises similar concerns regarding centralized control, expanded administrative burden, and potential erosion of profession-led regulation.

These changes could significantly affect how specialized regulatory boards such as NVBPELS operate and maintain their technical autonomy while protecting the public.

NALS encourages all members to review the talking points and letter linked below and submit comments prior to the November 17th deadline. Your engagement is critical in protecting the integrity and independence of our profession.

Click here to download proposed regulation

Click here to download NALS opposition letter

Click here to download talking points for member letters

-----------------------------------

SB 78, SB 425, AB 607, SB 507

We’re pleased to share that the grassroots efforts of NALS, along with the active involvement of NCEES and many other boards and commissions, made a real difference this legislative session. Several bills aimed at restructuring Nevada’s occupational licensing system did not advance. These proposals included efforts to consolidate boards, shift authority to the Department of Business and Industry, and increase government oversight. Thanks to strong opposition from across the professional licensing community, none of these bills passed. This is a clear example of what we can accomplish when we stay engaged and work together to protect our profession. 

Special thanks to Robert Carrington and Todd Enke who worked hard throughout this legislative session including attending weekly meetings, testifying, and drafting letters. And thank you to the NALS members that took the time to send in letters and register your opposition.

We know this is not the last effort we will see to change the makeup of boards and commissions. NALS will continue to monitor and be ready to take action when needed.

Nevada Independent Full Article (except below): https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/what-died-on-the-last-day-of-the-nevada-legislative-session

Lobbyists for Nevada boards helped kill a merger effort. How much were they paid? - The Nevada Independent

Boards and commissions:

  • No reforms: Several bills that would have restructured the system governing Nevada’s more than 300 boards and commissions — civilian-composed bodies that either provide recommendations or oversee occupational licensing requirements — failed to reach Lombardo, who has prioritized reforming the system since he entered office in an effort to streamline occupational licensing requirements to more easily attract employees.
    • For much of the session, the primary bill was SB78, which the Department of Business and Industry (B&I) proposed to greatly increase its oversight of the boards and merge and consolidate many of the boards.
      • However, it received significant backlash from board officials, and it ultimately stalled without passing out of either chamber.
    • Then, Sen. Fabian Doñate (D-Las Vegas) proposed an amended version of SB425 that would have stripped B&I authority of the boards, but that also stalled after receiving a hearing.
    • In what initially appeared to be a compromise between all parties, Assembly Minority Leader Greg Hafen’s (R-Pahrump) AB601 would have increased B&I oversight of the boards, while not merging or consolidating them. It never received a hearing after being introduced in the last week of session.
    • And finally, SB507, a budget implementation bill, would have provided B&I with 11 more employees to oversee the boards and allowed the department to prescribe a fee for services it provides. But after receiving a hearing on Saturday, it did not advance further.