Case Explained: 50+ new Nevada laws take effect in 2026 – Legal Perspective

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Over 500 bills passed in the 2025 Nevada legislative session and were signed into law by Gov. Joe Lombardo — over 50 of them take effect to start the New Year on January 1, 2026.

The list includes new regulations for artificial intelligence in campaign materials, restrictions on bounce houses and a crackdown on so-called ‘ghost kitchens.’

DUI penalties, deepfakes and bounce houses: 50+ new Nevada laws take effect in 2026

Plus, Gov. Lombardo’s signature crime bill, the Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act takes effect in 2026. The legislation, which passed in the November special session, tightens a number of criminal statutes including DUI, stalking and harassment.

Here is a list of some more notable laws officially added to the Nevada Revised Statutes to begin 2026. To read the full list of all 55 new laws, visit the Nevada legislature’s website.

AI in campaign materials

Nevada lawmakers unanimously approved a major regulation dealing with artificial intelligence in campaign materials.

Assembly Bill 73 requires election materials altered using AI to clearly state that the image, video or audio has been manipulated.

Candidates shown in altered political advertisements without the required disclosure can sue the creator of the media under the legislation.

Laws regulating deepfakes and AI in elections are becoming more common. Twenty other states recently passed similar laws to regulate the use of synthetic media in campaigns, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Lombardo crime bill

Gov. Lombardo’s marquee crime package called the “Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act” takes effect to start the New Year. The law increases penalties for a long list of crimes, including smash-and-grab robberies, assault and battery against hospitality employees, and DUIs involving a death.

It also revives a court program that handled criminal cases originating on the Las Vegas Strip and coincided with orders banning people from the corridor for a year.

A late amendment included by the Democratic-majority Senate prohibits law enforcement officers — including immigration officers — from entering school grounds without a warrant.

Ghost kitchens

Assembly Bill 116 targets so-called ‘ghost kitchens,’ a growing trend where legitimate restaurants not on food delivery apps are impersonated.

Under the bill taking effect Thursday, ghost kitchens can be fined $100 per order if the restaurant provided ‘false or misleading license information.’ The measure was sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossett.

It also requires that food delivery apps must remove restaurants found to be in violation from their platform within 10 days or else face a $500 daily fine.

The original bill stated that violators would be subject to a misdemeanor, but the amended version lowered the penalty to a civil infraction.

Wildfire smoke

Senate Bill 260 enacts new rules and regulations for worker safety during periods of intense wildfire smoke. It requires the state Division of Industrial Relations adopt regulations requiring employers to reduce employee exposure when the air quality index exceeds 150.

It does not apply to mines, commercial truck drivers, emergency service providers or businesses with fewer than 10 workers.

Bounce house rules

Assembly Bill 198 creates new rules for bounce houses and inflatable slides and regulates the businesses that operate them.

It comes in the wake of a tragic incident that killed 9-year-old Lizzy Hammond in Reno back in 2019 after a bounce house blew into power lines.

The law mandates that operators hold all necessary state and local business licenses and secure insurance or a surety bond of at least $1 million. Additionally, businesses must maintain a logbook for each inflatable device, documenting inspections and safety measures.

Wildfire insurance

Under Assembly Bill 376, insurance companies can exclude wildfire coverage from homeowners’ policies and offer a standalone wildfire-only policy.

The wide-ranging reform creates a regulatory “sandbox” allowing insurers to test new property insurance products, speeds up approval of certain rate increases, and expands alternative insurance options like captive insurers.

The Associated Press and Matthew Seeman contributed to this report. Email reporter Ben Margiott at bjmargiott@sbgtv.com. Follow @BenMargiott on X and Ben Margiott KRNV on Facebook.