Nevada Special Session: Regulatory Oversight and Board Autonomy Back in Focus

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has announced his intent to call a special session "over the next few months" to finish unresolved work from earlier this year. Although the formal agenda has not yet been issued, recent filings and communications from state agencies point to continued interest in restructuring how Nevada's professional licensing boards operate.

Earlier in 2025, lawmakers and state agencies advanced multiple proposals to reorganize or consolidate Nevada's professional licensing boards. One proposal would have merged or centralized several boards under the Department of Business and Industry. That effort stalled after strong pushback from the Nevada Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-NV), other design engineering organizations, and independent boards, which warned that consolidation would dilute technical expertise and reduce the professional autonomy needed for engineering and surveying oversight.

Regulatory Action Moves Forward After Legislative Stalemate

After the consolidation proposal failed in the Legislature, the department shifted to a regulatory route instead. The new proposal, LCB File R074-25, places all professional boards under the Office of Nevada Boards, Commissions, and Councils Standards (NBCCS). The regulation introduces uniform reporting requirements, centralized data submissions, quarterly performance reviews, and expanded administrative oversight across every board.

The implications are significant. A single administrative office would gain broad authority to review board operations, interpret compliance, and recommend corrective actions. That structure could narrow the space for independent technical judgment, influence how investigations are conducted, and gradually shift decision-making power from subject matter experts to a central administrative authority. Advancing these changes through rulemaking rather than statute allows the department to reshape how boards function without legislative debate, creating a long-term framework that may justify or accelerate future consolidation efforts.

Longstanding Board Performance Undercuts the Push for Added Oversight

Nevada's existing technical licensing systems already operate with established investigative procedures, timely case resolution, and clear professional standards supported by subject matter experts. Those efficiencies have led many in the engineering and surveying community to question the necessity of a new centralized oversight framework, especially one that revives several elements of the earlier consolidation proposal that did not move forward during the regular session. Stakeholders argue that any changes should strengthen, rather than dilute, the independence needed for technical decision making that protects the public health, safety, and welfare.

Special Session Funding: Institutionalizing NBCCS

The special session's scope reinforces this direction. The Governor's proclamation specifically includes continued funding for NBCCS positions within DBI. The special session also includes new funding to expand the capacity of the Office of NBCCS, reinforcing the administration's plans to formalize and sustain this oversight structure.

Stakeholders Assess Impact of Proposed Oversight Changes

Organizations representing Nevada's technical and professional community, including NSPE-NV, the Nevada Association of Land Surveyors, National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), and allied groups are reviewing the proposed regulation to assess its potential impact on independent technical judgment and investigative responsibility. These stakeholders are preparing to engage in the upcoming rulemaking process to seek clarity on the scope of the new oversight framework and how centralized reporting, performance reviews, and corrective action provisions may be applied in practice. Their focus remains on ensuring that any administrative changes respect established statutory authority and preserve the role of subject matter experts in protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.

Looking Ahead

The broader picture emerging from these developments is one of continued executive branch interest in reshaping how Nevada's professional licensing system is governed. Although the state legislature declined to enact consolidation earlier in the year, the department is now embedding new oversight mechanisms through regulation and budget authority. Stakeholders across the engineering, surveying, and architecture communities are responding with coordinated engagement to keep independent professional judgment and public safety at the forefront of any future changes.

As the Governor finalizes the call for the special session, more clarity will emerge on whether licensing oversight will return as part of the debate. NSPE and NSPE-NV continue to closely monitor developments on the ground.