During the current Special Session of the Nevada Legislature, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks led the support presentation of Governor Lombardo’s “Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act,” in partnership with the Nevada District Attorney’s Association, of which DA Hicks is the current President. Assembly Bill 4 revises provisions related to public safety, juvenile justice, pretrial release, and opioid use disorders.
“Nevadans deserve to feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods, and schools,” said DA Hicks. “The Governor’s Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act is a responsible, common-sense approach to protecting our communities by addressing serious and repeat criminal behavior. It strengthens protections for victims, ensures accountability for offenders, and reflects the shared values of safety and fairness that unite Nevadans across the political spectrum. This is meaningful reform that will help build safer streets and stronger neighborhoods in every corner of our state.”
The “Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act” was first introduced in the 83rd legislative session and aims to address serious and repeat criminal behavior. The provisions include strengthening crimes and penalties related to stalking, theft, DUI offenses, child pornography, domestic violence, and sealing of criminal records.
Read DA Hicks’ full introductory statement to the Committee below:
Good afternoon, Chair Miller and Members of the Assembly Public Safety and Security Committee. My name is Chris Hicks, and I am the District Attorney of Washoe County, and current president of the Nevada District Attorneys’ Association.
Nevadans deserve to feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods, and schools. The Governor’s Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act, which was first introduced in the 83rd legislative session, is a responsible, common-sense effort to protect our communities by addressing serious and repeat criminal behavior. By prioritizing accountability, victim protection, and public safety, this Act offers balanced reforms that reflect the values of Nevadans across the political spectrum.
This legislation strengthens protections for victims and ensures accountability for offenders in several important ways. It modernizes our stalking laws to include harassment and intimidation carried out through social media and expands the definition of domestic violence to include kidnapping and
attempt offenses—recognizing the many forms control and abuse can take. It enhances enforcement of firearm surrender orders, ensuring dangerous individuals actually comply with court directives intended to prevent further harm.
The Act protects vulnerable Nevadans by ensuring that those who abuse children or the elderly cannot have their records automatically sealed and later obtain positions of trust caring for those same populations. It targets “smash and grab” thefts, ensures appropriate accountability for possession of child pornography, and prioritizes victim restitution before court fines or fees.
It also takes steps to reduce violence in our classrooms by requiring evaluations for students who seriously harm educators, and it strengthens our DUI laws to better address the devastating impact of impaired driving.
These targeted measures are meaningful steps toward building safer streets and stronger neighborhoods in our State.
We are all here today because we serve the great people of Nevada, and a measure this important deserves to be completed. I’m grateful that this committee is willing to take it up again. Today is an opportunity for all of us to finish that work and move forward with reforms that will strengthen public safety in every corner of our state. I respectfully request your support.
