SB 276 — Revises provisions relating to water. (BDR 40-750)

(ReprintedSenate withBill amendmentsNo. adopted on April 15, 2025) FIRST REPRINT S.B.

276276–Senators SHansen, ENATEFlores, BILLBuck, NOKrasner, .Stone;

276–SDoñate, ENATORSEllison, HOhrenschall, ANSENPazina, ,Scheible, FSteinbeck LORESand ,Taylor BJoint UCKSponsors: , K RASNER , S TONE;

DAssemblymembers OÑATEWatts, ,O’Neill; E LLISON, O HRENSCHALL , PAZINA , CHEIBLE , TEINBECK AND TAYLOR M ARCH 5, 2025 ____________ JOINT SPONSORS :

ASSEMBLYMEMBERSAnderson, WKarris ATTSand ,La O’NEILL;Rue Hatch CHAPTER..........

ANDERSON , KARRIS AND L A RUE H ATCH ____________ Referred to Committee on Natural Resources SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to water.

(BDR 40-750) FISCAL NOTE:

Effect on Local Government:

May have Fiscal Impact.

Effect on the State:

Yes.

~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

LegExistingLegiExisting law sets forth various requirements to control water pollution in this State, including providing for the issuance of a general permit or an individual permit for discharges into the waters of the State.

(1) the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, with certain exceptions, to notify each interested person, appropriate governmental agency and affected Indian tribe of each complete application for such a permit and provide them with an opportunity to submit written views and recommendations on the permit;

and (2) the State Environmental Commission, with certain exceptions, to provide by regulation an opportunity for each permit applicant, interested agency, city, county, Indian tribe or irrigation district located downstream from the point of discharge, or any person, to request a public hearing with respect to a permit application.

(1) in the event of an incident resulting in the discharge of sewage or industrial waste or any other unauthorized discharge into the waters of the State, under certainwastecertain or any circumstances, to notify the Division of Environmental Protection of the Department;requests information that is a public record relating to an incident or a policy of water treatment.

and (2) upon request, provide information to an Indian tribe that - *SB276_R1* – 2 – requests information that is a public record relating to an incident or a policy of water treatment.

(1) requires the Division, if notified of a (2)discharge, prohibitsto athen city,notify county,any unincorporatedIndian town,tribe generalthat improvementmay district,;be affected by the discharge;

and (2) prohibits a city, county, unincorporated town, general improvement district, wastewater district or water authority from entering into a contract, agreement or other legal mechanism that would prevent the sharing of such information with an Indian tribe.

Sectionpollution 5 of this bill applies certain definitions in existing law relating to water provisions relating to the enforcement and civil and criminal penalties to thetain provisions of section 3.

Sections 8-15 of this bill apply certain water provisions relating to the enforcement and civil and criminal penalties to the provisions of section 3.

- 83rd Session (2025) – 2 – EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

(a) Any city, county, unincorporated town, general improvement district, wastewater district or water authority of this State that has powers, duties or jurisdiction within the area of the incident that has been notified or is aware of the incident shall notify the Division electronically on the Internet website of the Division or by telephone.

No city, county, unincorporated town, general improvement district, wastewater district or water authority of this State may enter into a contract, agreement or any other legal mechanism that would prevent the city, county, unincorporated - *SB276_R1* – 3 – town, general improvement district, wastewater district or water authority from sharing information in accordance with the requirements of this section.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construedconSec. to interfere with attorney-client privilege.

Sec.

(Deleted by amendment.)amendment.)ey-client Sec.privilege.

- 83rd Session (2025) – 3 – Sec.

445A.310 As used in NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730, inclusive, and section 3 of this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 445A.315 to 445A.420, inclusive, havehavSecs. the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

6 and 7.

(Deleted by amendment.)se sections.

6.

(Deleted by amendment.) Sec.

7.

(Deleted by amendment.) Sec.

Except as otherwise provided in NRS 445A.707, if the Director finds that any person is engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice which violates any provision of NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730, inclusive, and section 3 of this act, any standard or other regulation adopted by the Commission pursuant to those sections, or any permit issued by the Department pursuant to those sections, except for any violation of a provision concerning a diffuse source, the Director may:

or - *SB276_R1* – 4 – (c) Request that the Attorney General institute by indictment or information a criminal prosecution pursuant to NRS 445A.705 and 445A.710.

The remedies and sanctions specified in subsection 1 are cumulative, and the institution of any proceeding or action seeking any one of the remedies or sanctions does not bar any simultaneous - 83rd Session (2025) – 4 – or subsequent action or proceeding seeking any other of the remedies or sanctions.