Nevada Legislature Kills Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide

The Nevada Legislature has defeated a controversial bill that would have legalized assisted suicide, a decision hailed by pro-life advocates as a victory for the sanctity of life and protections for the vulnerable.

Assembly Bill 346, which sought to allow terminally ill patients over 18 to request life-ending medication under specific conditions, failed to advance past a critical committee deadline on Friday, effectively ending its chances in the 2025 legislative session.

The bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Joe Dalia, D-Clark County, cited insufficient Senate support and a promised veto from Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo as key reasons for the measure’s demise.

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This is a profound relief for those who cherish life at all stages. Legalizing assisted suicide risks a slippery slope where the vulnerable—disabled, elderly, or depressed—could face pressure to end their lives prematurely.

Sarah Davenport-Smith of the Patients’ Rights Action Fund told LifeNews, “All of the credit for this win goes to our NV Coalition and fellow advocates.”

The bill started out in the Assembly and the first hearing was through a non-traditional ad-hoc committee of hand-picked proponents of assisted suicide.  The rules of public testimony and a fair hearing did not apply.  AB 346 unfortunately was amended and passed the Assembly in a 23-19 vote.   It moved to the traditional Senate Health and Human Services committee.  Our NV Coalition and fellow advocates wasted no time in constantly meeting with key Senators, sending in emails, reaching outside of our Coalition to pull in more influence, and writing excellent op-eds and letters to the editor in various newspapers.  Their work paid off!  In the end, the votes were not even present in the Senate committee.

Looking toward the future, we know that pro-assisted suicide advocates won’t be giving up, so we certainly won’t quit.

The bill, which narrowly passed the Assembly in April by a 23-19 vote, would have permitted mentally competent adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to obtain lethal prescriptions from physicians or advanced practice registered nurses.

Opponents, however, warned of potential abuses, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities. Dr. Kirk Bronander, an internal medicine physician, testified that patients like former President Jimmy Carter, who lived nine years with metastatic melanoma, could be misled into believing they have mere months left.

Pro-life groups mobilized against the measure, emphasizing Nevada’s high senior suicide rate, the highest in the nation.

The bill’s defeat marks the latest in a series of unsuccessful attempts to legalize assisted suicide in Nevada, with similar proposals failing in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023, the latter vetoed by Lombardo.

Gov. Lombardo’s consistent opposition, reiterated in a statement on April 8, underscored his belief that such laws undermine the value of life. “

Critics of AB 346 also raised concerns about coercion and inadequate safeguards. Insurance companies could push assisted suicide as a cheaper alternative to treatment, echoing fears that the poor and disabled could be disproportionately affected. The bill’s requirement to list the cause of death as the patient’s chronic condition rather than suicide further alarmed opponents, who saw it as a way to mask the true impact of such deaths.

The pro-life community praised the Legislature’s decision as a step toward prioritizing palliative care and mental health support over what they call “assisted death.” As the 83rd legislative session nears its June 2 close, the defeat of AB 346 reinforces Nevada’s stance against assisted suicide, aligning with pro-life values that emphasize care and dignity for all, especially the most vulnerable.

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