Nevada 2025 Regular Session Status: Passed Assembly 2 D cosponsors

AJR 8 — Proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to provide for the establishment of a business court. (BDR C-668)

Last action — Enrolled and delivered to Secretary of State. File No. 24.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Assembly” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

416 added · 444 removed

416 line(s) added, 444 removed.

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(Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 15, 2025) FIRST REPRINT A.J.R.
Assembly Joint Resolution No.
8 A SSEMBLY JOINT R ESOLUTION N O.
8–Assemblymembers Dalia and Backus FILE NUMBER..........
8–ASSEMBLYMEMBERS DALIA AND BACKUS FEBRUARY 19, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Judiciary SUMMARY—Proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to provide for the establishment of a business court.
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION—Proposing to amend the Nevada Constitution to authorize the Legislature, to the extent money is available, to provide by law for the establishment of a business court.
(BDR C-668) FISCAL NOTE:
Effect on Local Government:
No.
Effect on the State:
No.
~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;
matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION—Proposing to amend the Nevada Constitution to require the Legislature, to the extent money is available, to provide by law for the establishment of a business court.
the Legislature, to the extent money is available, to provide by law for there establishment of a business court which, if established, will have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear disputes involving shareholder rights, mergers and acquisitions, fiduciary duties, receiverships involving business entities and other commercial or contractual disputes between business entities and any other business disputes of a similar nature in which equitable or declaratory relief is sought.
This resolution proposes an amendment to the Nevada Constitution to authorize establishment of a business court which, if established, will have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear disputes involving shareholder rights, mergers and acquisitions, fiduciary duties, receiverships involving business entities and other commercial or contractual disputes between business entities and any other business disputes of a similar nature in which equitable or declaratory relief is sought.
If the Legislature resolution requires the Legislature to:
If the Legislature establishes a business court, the constitutional amendment proposed by this Commission for the selection of nominees for the office of business court judge;
(1) establish by law a Special Nominating Commission for the selection of nominees for the office of business court judge;
The constitutional amendment proposed by this Supreme Court will have exclusive appellate jurisdiction of cases within thet, the original jurisdiction of the business court.
The constitutional amendment proposed by this resolution also provides that if the Legislature establishes a business court, the original jurisdiction of the business court.
- *AJR8_R1* – 2 – R ESOLVED BY THE A SSEMBLY AND SENATE OF THE STATE OF N EVADA , OINTLY , That a new section, designated Section 3B, be added to Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution to read as follows:
EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;
matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
R ESOLVED BY THE A SSEMBLY AND SENATE OF THE S TATE OF N EVADA , OINTLY , That a new section, designated Section 3B, be added to Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution to read as follows:
The Legislature shall, to the extent money is available, provide by law for the establishment of a business court consisting of three judges or such greater number as the Legislature may provide by law pursuant to subsection 9.
The Legislature may, to the extent money is available, provide by law for the establishment of a business court consisting of three judges or such greater number as the Legislature may provide by law pursuant to subsection 9.
If the Legislature provides by law for the establishment of a business court pursuant to subsection 1, the business court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear disputes involving shareholder rights, mergers and acquisitions, fiduciary duties, receiverships involving business entities and other commercial or contractual disputes between business entities and any other business disputes of a similar nature in which equitable or declaratory relief is sought.
If the Legislature provides by law for the establishment of a business court pursuant to subsection 1, the business court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear disputes involving shareholder rights, mergers and acquisitions, fiduciary duties, receiverships involving business entities and other commercial or contractual disputes between business entities and any other business - 83rd Session (2025) – 2 – disputes of a similar nature in which equitable or declaratory relief is sought.
Upon receipt of a petition, the chief judge of the business court may, in his or her reasonable discretion, order the transfer of a dispute presented to the business court to the appropriate district court if the chief judge finds that the dispute would be more appropriately adjudicated in the district court.
Upon receipt of a petition, the chief judge of the business court may, in his or her reasonable discretion, order the transfer of a dispute court if the chief judge finds that the dispute would be more appropriately adjudicated in the district court.
and (2) Term of a chief judge of the business court in accordance with subsection 8.
and accordance with subsection 8.dge of the business court in 4.
- *AJR8_R1* – 3 – 4.
The Special Nominating Commission must be composed of:
The Special Nominating Commission must be composed of the following members, or their respective designees:
(c) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada;
- 83rd Session (2025) – 3 – (c) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada;
(e) A district judge from a judicial district other than the two most populous judicial districts;
(e) A district judge from a judicial district other than the two (f) Such additional members as the Legislature may prescribe by law.
and (f) Such additional members as the Legislature may prescribe by law.
The term of office of each business court judge who succeeds himself or herself is 6 years, and that term begins on the first Monday of January next following the general election at which the business court judge was chosen to succeed himself or herself.
The term of office of each business court judge who succeeds himself or herself is 6 years, and that term begins on the first Monday of January next following the general election at which the herself.
If a judge does not declare his or her candidacy or if less than 55 percent of the votes cast on the question are cast in favor of the business court judge succeeding himself or herself, a vacancy is created at the expiration of his or - *AJR8_R1* – 4 – her term which must be filled by appointment pursuant to subsection 4.
If a judge does not declare his or her candidacy or if less than 55 percent of the votes cast on the question are cast in favor of the business court judge succeeding himself or herself, a vacancy is created at the expiration of his or her term which must be filled by appointment pursuant to subsection 4.
If the Legislature provides by law for the establishment of a business court pursuant to subsection 1, the Legislature may, as the caseload of the business court may require and to the extent that money is available therefor, provide by law for an increase or decrease in the number of business court judges or divisions of the business court as may be necessary for the proper and timely administration of the business court docket.
If the Legislature provides by law for the establishment of a business court pursuant to subsection 1, the Legislature may, as the caseload of the business court - 83rd Session (2025) – 4 – may require and to the extent that money is available therefor, provide by law for an increase or decrease in the number of business court judges or divisions of the business court as may be necessary for the proper and timely adm10.stThe Supreme Court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction in all cases arising in a business court.
10.
The Supreme Court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction in all cases arising in a business court.
The terms of the Supreme Court must be held at the seat of government unless the Legislature otherwise provides by law, except that the Supreme Court may hear oral argument at other places in the State.
The terms of the Supreme Court must be held at the seat of government unless the Legislature otherwise provides by law, other places in the State.
- *AJR8_R1* – 5 – And be it further R ESOLVED , That Section 8 of Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to read as follows:
And be it further R ESOLVED , That Section 8 of Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to read as follows:
The Legislature shall determine the number of justices of the peace to be elected in each city and township of the State and shall fix by law their qualifications, their terms of office and the limits of their civil and criminal jurisdiction, according to the amount in controversy, the nature of the case, the penalty provided or any combination of these.
The Legislature shall determine the number of justices of the peace to be elected in each city and township of the State and shall fix by law their qualifications, their terms of office and the limits of their civil and criminal jurisdiction, according to the amount in controversy, the - 83rd Session (2025) – 5 – nature of the case, the penalty provided or any combination of these.
The provisions of this section affecting the number, qualifications, terms of office and jurisdiction of justices of the peace become effective on the first Monday of January, 1979.
The provisions of this section affecting the number, qualifications, terms of office and jurisdiction of justices of 1979.eace become effective on the first Monday of January, 3.
3.
And be it further R ESOLVED , That Section 15 of Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to read as follows:
And be it further R ESOLVED , That Section 15 of Article 6 of the Nevada ConstitutiSec.
Sec.
The justices of the Supreme Court, the judges of the court of appeals, the business court judges, if the Legislature establishes a business court pursuant to Section 3B of this Article, and the district judges are each entitled to receive for their services a compensation to be fixed by law and paid in the manner provided by law, which must not be increased or diminished during the term for which they have been elected [,] or appointed, unless a vacancy occurs, in which case the successor of the former incumbent is entitled - *AJR8_R1* – 6 – to receive only such salary as may be provided by law at the time of his election or appointment.
The justices of the Supreme Court, the judges of the court of appeals, the business court judges, if the Legislature establishes a business court pursuant to Section 3B of this Article, and the district judges are each entitled to receive for their services a compensation to be fixed by law and paid in the manner provided by law, which must not be increased or diminished during the term for which they have been elected [,] or appointed, unless a vacancy occurs, in which case the successor of the former incumbent is entitled to receive only such salary as may be provided by law at the time of his election or appointment.
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And be it further R ESOLVED , That Section 20 of Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to read as follows:
And be it further - 83rd Session (2025) – 6 – R ESOLVED , That Section 20 of Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to read as follows:
When a vacancy occurs before the expiration of any term of office in the Supreme Court , [or] the court of appeals or the business court, if the Legislature establishes such a court pursuant to Section 3B of this Article, or among the district judges, the Governor shall appoint a justice or judge from among three nominees selected for such individual vacancy by the Commission on Judicial Selection or the Special Nominating Commission, as applicable.
When a vacancy occurs before the expiration of any term of office in the Supreme Court , [or] establishes such a court pursuant to Section 3B of thisslature Article, or among the district judges, the Governor shall appoint a justice or judge from among three nominees selected for such individual vacancy by the Commission on Judicial Selection or the Special Nominating Commission, as applicable.
4.
by a temporary commission composed of:ct court must be made (a) The permanent Commission;
Each nomination for the district court must be made by a temporary commission composed of:
(a) The permanent Commission;
If at any time the State Bar of Nevada ceases to exist as a public corporation or ceases to include all attorneys admitted to practice before the courts of this State, the Legislature shall provide by law, or if it fails to do so the Supreme Court shall provide by rule, for the appointment of - *AJR8_R1* – 7 – attorneys at law to the positions designated in this Section to be occupied by members of the State Bar of Nevada.
If at any time the State Bar of Nevada ceases to exist as a public corporation or ceases to include all attorneys admitted to practice before the courts of this State, the Legislature shall provide by law, or if it fails to do so the Supreme Court shall provide by rule, for the appointment of attorneys at law to the positions designated in this Section to be occupied by members of the State Bar of Nevada.
6.
- 83rd Session (2025) – 7 – 6.
If a vacancy occurs, the appointing authority shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
If a vacancy occurs, the term.
The additional members of a temporary commission must be appointed when a vacancy occurs, and their terms expire when the nominations for such vacancy have been transmitted to the Governor.
The additional members of a temporary commissionexpired must be appointed when a vacancy occurs, and their terms expire when the nominations for such vacancy have been transmitted to the Governor.
A justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the court of appeals, a business court judge, if the Legislature establishes such a court pursuant to Section 3B of this Article, a district judge, a justice of the peace or a municipal judge may, in addition to the provision of Article 7 for impeachment, be censured, retired, removed or otherwise disciplined by the Commission on Judicial Discipline.
A justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the court of appeals, a business court judge, if the Legislature establishes such a court pursuant to Section 3B municipal judge may, in addition to the provision of Article 7 for impeachment, be censured, retired, removed or otherwise disciplined by the Commission on Judicial Discipline.
and - *AJR8_R1* – 8 – (c) Three persons, not members of the legal profession, appointed by the Governor.
and - 83rd Session (2025) – 8 – (c) Three persons, not members of the legal profession, appointed by the Governor.
3.
as a public corporation or ceases to include all attorneysxist admitted to practice before the courts of this State, the Legislature shall provide by law, or if it fails to do so the Supreme Court shall provide by rule, for the appointment of attorneys at law to the positions designated in this Section to be occupied by members of the State Bar of Nevada.
If at any time the State Bar of Nevada ceases to exist as a public corporation or ceases to include all attorneys admitted to practice before the courts of this State, the Legislature shall provide by law, or if it fails to do so the Supreme Court shall provide by rule, for the appointment of attorneys at law to the positions designated in this Section to be occupied by members of the State Bar of Nevada.
(b) The grounds for censure and other disciplinary action that the Commission may impose, including, but not limited to, violations of the provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct;
(b) The grounds for censure and other disciplinary action that the Commission may impose, including, but not limited to, violations of the provisions of the Code of Judicial Cond(c) The standards for the investigation of matters relating to the fitness of a justice or judge;
(c) The standards for the investigation of matters relating to the fitness of a justice or judge;
or (b) Retired except for advanced age which interferes with the proper performance of his judicial duties, or for mental or - *AJR8_R1* – 9 – physical disability which prevents the proper performance of his judicial duties and which is likely to be permanent in nature.
or - 83rd Session (2025) – 9 – the proper performance of his judicial duties, or for mental or physical disability which prevents the proper performance of his judicial duties and which is likely to be permanent in nature.
A justice or judge retired for disability in accordance with this Section is entitled thereafter to receive such compensation as the Legislature may provide.
A justice or judge retired for to receive such compensation as the Legislature may provide.after 10.
10.
If a proceeding is brought against a business court judge, if the Legislature establishes such a court pursuant to section 3B of this Article, no judge of the business court may sit on the Commission for that proceeding.
If a proceeding is brought against a business court judge, if the Legislature establishes such a court pursuant to Section 3B of this Article, no judge of the business court may sit on the Commission for that proceeding.
If a proceeding is brought against a justice of the peace, no justice of the peace from the same township may sit on the Commission for that proceeding.
If a proceeding is brought against a justice of the peace, no justice of the peace from the same township may sit on the Commission for that judge, no municipal judge from the same city may sit on the Commission for that proceeding.
If a proceeding is brought against a municipal judge, no municipal judge from the same city may sit on the Commission for that proceeding.
(a) Designate for each hearing an attorney or attorneys at law to act as counsel to conduct the proceeding;
- 83rd Session (2025) – 10 – (a) Designate for each hearing an attorney or attorneys at law to act as counsel to conduct the proceeding;
- *AJR8_R1* – 10 – (b) Summon witnesses to appear and testify under oath and compel the production of books, papers, documents and records;
(b) Summon witnesses to appear and testify under oath and compel the production of books, papers, documents and reco(c) Grant immunity from prosecution or punishment when the Commission deems it necessary and proper in order to compel the giving of testimony under oath and the production of books, papers, documents and records;
(c) Grant immunity from prosecution or punishment when the Commission deems it necessary and proper in order to compel the giving of testimony under oath and the production of books, papers, documents and records;
And be it further R ESOLVED , That Section 8 of Article 15 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to read as follows:
AndRbESOLVEDrt, That Section 8 of Article 15 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to read as follows:
And be it further - *AJR8_R1* – 11 – R ESOLVED, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage.
- 83rd Session (2025) – 11 – And be it further R ESOLVED , That this resolution becomes effective upon passage.
H - *AJR8_R1*
~~~~~ 25 - 83rd Session (2025)
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Amendments

2 amendments

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Action History

  1. Enrolled and delivered to Secretary of State. File No. 24.

  2. Senate Amendment No. 643 concurred in. To enrollment.

  3. In Assembly.

  4. Resolution read. Amended. (Amend. No. 643.) Reprinting dispensed with. Resolution read. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 17, Nays: 4.) To printer. From printer. To re-engrossment. Re-engrossed. Second reprint. To Assembly.

  5. Taken from Resolution File. Placed on Resolution File for next legislative day.

  6. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. Placed on Resolution File. Taken from Resolution File. Placed on Resolution File for next legislative day.

  7. In Senate. Resolution read. Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections. To committee.

  8. From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint. Resolution read. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 40, Nays: 2.) To Senate.

  9. Taken from Chief Clerk's desk. Placed on Resolution File. Resolution read. Amended. (Amend. No. 149.) To printer.

  10. Withdrawn from Committee on Judiciary. Placed on Chief Clerk's desk.

  11. From printer. To committee.

  12. Resolution read. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. To printer.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 65 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (65)

65 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors AJR 8?
AJR 8 is sponsored by Backus, Shea M. (Democratic) and Dalia, Joe (Democratic).
What is the current status of AJR 8?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Assembly” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AJR 8?
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