Revises provisions relating to parole. (BDR 16-500)
Summary
AB91 revises Nevada’s parole laws in two main ways. First, it creates a new “second look review” process that allows the State Board of Parole Commissioners to review certain prisoners convicted of category A or B felonies after they have served at least 10 years of the minimum term, so long as they were not sentenced to death and do not present a significant and articulable risk to public safety. The bill sets out who may apply for review, what documentation may be submitted, how the Department of Corrections verifies eligibility, and how the Board must schedule and conduct the hearing.
Second, the bill expands an existing youth-parole eligibility provision. Under current law, prisoners sentenced for offenses committed before age 18 can become eligible for parole after 15 or 20 years depending on whether the offense caused one death. AB91 raises that age threshold to under 25, making more people eligible for this earlier parole consideration. The bill also applies these changes retroactively to offenses committed before, on, or after January 1, 2026, and directs the Board to adopt regulations needed to implement the new process.
Impact
AB91 amends Chapter 213 of the Nevada Revised Statutes by adding a new parole-review mechanism and broadening eligibility for age-based parole consideration. It affects the State Board of Parole Commissioners, the Department of Corrections, and the Division of Parole and Probation by creating new application, verification, hearing, release, and supervision procedures. It also expands the class of incarcerated people who may seek parole under NRS 213.12135 by changing the relevant age from under 18 to under 25, which could increase the number of prisoners eligible for earlier parole review and release.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill had meaningful but not overwhelming support, passing Assembly final passage 27-15. No committee transcript excerpts were provided, so there is no recorded discussion to gauge detailed arguments from hearings. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears to be framed as a reform-oriented parole bill focused on individualized review, rehabilitation, and public-safety screening rather than automatic release.
Contention
The likely points of contention are the expansion of parole eligibility to people who were under 25 at the time of the offense and the creation of a second-look process for serious felonies after 10 years. Supporters would likely emphasize rehabilitation, aging, and the possibility that long sentences may become inconsistent with current policy or a person’s demonstrated growth. Opponents would likely focus on public safety, the seriousness of category A and B felonies, victims’ rights, and concern that retroactive application could reopen sentences that were previously considered final. The bill expressly allows the Board to consider victim impact statements and public-safety risk, reflecting those concerns.