Nevada Assembly Bill AB421

Nevada 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/13/25
• Refer: 3/13/25
• Failed: 4/12/25

Caption

Provides immunity from civil liability for certain acts and omissions of volunteer security personnel of a religious organization under certain circumstances. (BDR 3-322)

Summary

AB 421 creates a new civil-liability immunity for volunteer security personnel serving religious organizations in Nevada. The bill covers people who provide safety, security, or protection services without compensation, other than reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses, and who are acting within the scope of those volunteer duties. If their conduct is not reckless, wanton, or grossly negligent, they would be immune from civil liability for injury or damage caused by their acts or omissions. The bill also extends that protection to the religious organization itself, making the organization immune from civil liability for the acts or omissions of its volunteer security personnel when those volunteers are providing security services on the organization’s behalf. It defines “religious organization” as one whose primary purpose is operating a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other place of worship where religious services and activities are regularly conducted. The bill applies to civil actions filed on or after October 1, 2025.

Impact

AB 421 would add a specific immunity provision to Chapter 41 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, creating an exception to the general rule that nonprofit organizations and their agents may be liable for negligent or wrongful acts. It would not eliminate liability for reckless, wanton, or grossly negligent conduct, but it would shield qualifying volunteer security personnel and the religious organizations they serve from ordinary civil claims arising from covered security activities. The bill also makes a conforming change to NRS 41.480 and applies prospectively to lawsuits filed on or after October 1, 2025.

Sentiment

Based on the bill’s sponsorship and the absence of recorded opposition, the measure appears to have been introduced in a generally supportive policy environment focused on protecting faith-based institutions and their volunteers. The bill’s framing suggests an intent to encourage volunteer security efforts at houses of worship by reducing litigation risk. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented public debate in the supplied materials.

Contention

The main policy tension in AB 421 is between providing legal protection for volunteer security at religious institutions and preserving accountability for harm caused by those volunteers. Supporters would likely view the bill as a practical safeguard for churches and other houses of worship that rely on unpaid security volunteers, especially where security concerns are heightened. Potential critics could argue that the immunity is too broad, particularly because it also shields the religious organization from liability for volunteer security personnel’s acts or omissions, though the bill preserves liability for reckless, wanton, or grossly negligent conduct.