Nevada New Laws for 2012

Happy new year.

Remember, effective today, only hands-free use of mobile phones is permitted while driving, and text messages is never permitted. Enforcement is primary, meaning you can be pulled over for this offense alone, and receive a first-offense ticket of $50. First offenses are not, however, considered moving violations.

State workers hired in 2012 and beyond will have to cover their own health care costs in retirement.

Cellphone crackdown among new laws taking effect today, Cy Ryan, Las Vegas Sun, January 1, 2012

No New Corporations Sole in Nevada

In Senate Bill No. 55, the 2009 Nevada Legislature amended the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) governing the incorporation of corporations sole. A corporation sole may be formed in Nevada "for acquiring, holding or disposing of church or religious society property, for the benefit of religion, for works of charity, and for public worship," pursuant to NRS Chapter 84. As of July 1, 2009, new corporations sole may only be formed in Nevada if they are a subsidiary of an existing corporation sole. After July 1, 2011, no new corporations sole may be formed in Nevada. Senate Bill No. 55 does not change the status of existing corporations sole.

Nevada Business Law

Despite Nevada's growing popularity as a location for the incorporation of new businesses, Nevada business law resources are few and far between. There are some basic public resources: the Nevada Revised Statutes are available online and Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller has developed a website to answer the question "Why Nevada?" The Nevada Law Journal, which is run by students of the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, publishes Nevada Supreme Court Summaries, Nevada Supreme Court Commentaries, Nevada Legislative Summaries, and Nevada Legislative Commentaries. A local law firm, Lionel Sawyer & Collins, also publishes a guide entitled "Doing Business In Nevada: A Practical Guide." However, although Nevada has dedicated business courts and judges, case law is limited because lower courts in Nevada do not publish opinions and, in fact, often do not issue opinions. On this blog, I will post information about Nevada business law and, hopefully, create a space where practitioners and others will contribute their knowledge of business law in Nevada and engage in a useful discourse.