By Jonathan Norman
In the 120 days of the 2025 session, the Nevada Legislature drafted and worked through 1,210 bills—558 became law, and 87 were vetoed. I cannot recall one bill that mentioned pro bono, but I saw a lot of bills that will impact access to justice. Almost every bill impacts access to justice; some in small ways and some in very large ways. Pro bono service, and well-drafted legislation, are fundamentally about ensuring folks have access to justice. Three bills that raise the bar for access to justice are: SB 284, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro; SB 125, sponsored by Senator John Steinbeck; and AB 329, sponsored by Assemblymember Erica Roth.
SB 284 ensures that when a child enters foster care they are screened for federal benefit eligibility and that any benefit amount received is preserved for that foster child. The bill enhances transparency and provides education and safeguards for the preservation of a vital benefit.
SB 125 creates a framework so that victims of violent crime can get the records they need for services, without telling their story over and over again. The bill allows bureaucracy to work for victims, rather than creating barriers.
AB 329 aligns Nevada’s Victim of Crime Compensation with federal guidance. This legislation allows victims of violent crime to apply for compensation up to 60 months after the injury; allows minors, until the age of 26, to apply; expands the type of proof that can be provided to support a claim; and removes the requirement that the victim cooperate with law enforcement. Victims heal in their own time and in their own unique way. This law respects that individual journey.
Good legislation and pro bono attorneys serve access to justice by removing barriers. They make the legal process easier for victims of violent crime, for foster children, and for countless Nevadans who, without your help, face the prospect of walking into court alone.
About the author
Jonathan Norman is the Statewide Advocacy, Outreach & Policy Director for the Nevada Coalition of Legal Service Providers. Jonathan started with Legal Aid Center, in 2017, as an attorney in the Children’s Attorney Project. Prior to joining Legal Aid Center, Jonathan practiced law in New Mexico, working for Diné be’iiná Náhiiłna be Agha’diit’ahii, the largest Native American legal aid provider in the United States.
About the article
This article was originally published in the Communiqué (Sep. 2025), the official publication of the Clark County Bar Association. See https://clarkcountybar.org/about/member-benefits/communique-2025/communique-sep-2025/. The printed magazine will be mailed to CCBA members in the last week of August 2025.
The articles and advertisements appearing in Communiqué magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the CCBA, the CCBA Publications Committee, the editorial board, or the other authors. All legal and other issues discussed are not for the purpose of answering specific legal questions. Attorneys and others are strongly advised to independently research all issues.
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