Nevada Primary Sources

Regulations are rules made by government agencies, just like laws, but these agencies create them instead of lawmakers. In Nevada, new regulations first appear in a monthly magazine called the Register of Administrative Regulations and then go into a big book called the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC). Regulations don’t have detailed explanations like laws do, so if you want more details, you need to ask the agency that made the rule. The Law Library has all the issues of the Register from 1997 and keeps old versions of the NAC for research. Some agencies, like the Governor’s Office and the Gaming Control Board, put their rules on their own websites.

What are regulations?

• Regulations are rules issued by executive branch agencies through powers delegated to them by the legislature. They have the force and effect of law.
• In Nevada, regulations are first published in the Register of Administrative Regulations and eventually incorporated by subject into the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC).

"Regulatory History"

• Nevada administrative regulations are unlike Nevada statutes when it comes to background information regarding WHY a regulation is made or amended. In other words, there is not a "regulatory history" in the same way there is a "legislative history," nor is there a regulatory preamble common in federal regulations setting forth the reasons behind the agency's regulatory changes.
• For any background information that an agency may have collected as part of a public hearing on a proposed regulation, that information would reside with that agency, and reaching out to that agency is our recommended next step in the research process for this type of information.

The Register of Administrative Regulations (hereafter "Register") includes both proposed and final regulations. The Register is published monthly by the Legal Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau. The Register was first published in 1997 and the Law Library has all issues in print in our collection. 

The Nevada Administrative Code (NAC), first published in 1980, predates the Register by nearly two decades. Some regulations from before 1980 were included in the initial NAC, as noted in their historical notes. The NAC is usually updated 2–6 times annually. The Law Library preserves superseded pages for historical research, though early archives have some gaps.

Per NRS 233B.039, not all state agencies are required to publish their regulations in the Nevada Administrative Code. For those agencies that are exempt, their regulations are likely posted on their respective websites. Exempted agencies include:

• The Governor
• Department of Corrections (except as otherwise provided in NRS 209.221 and 209.2473)
• Nevada System of Higher Education
• Office of the Military
• Nevada Gaming Control Board
• Nevada Gaming Commission (except as otherwise provided in NRS 368A.140 and 463.765)
• Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services (except as otherwise provided in NRS 425.620)
• Division of Health Care Financing Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services (except as otherwise provided by NRS 422.390)
• Office of the State Engineer (except as otherwise provided in NRS 533.365)
• Division of Industrial Relations of the Department of Business and Industry acting to enforce the provisions of NRS 618.375
• Administrator of the Division of Industrial Relations of the Department of Business and Industry in establishing and adjusting the schedule of fees and charges for accident benefits pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 616C.260
• Board to Review Claims in adopting resolutions to carry out its duties pursuant to NRS 445C.310
• Silver State Health Insurance Exchange