AB125, the comprehensive construction defect reform bill, passed the Nevada State Assembly today on a 25-17 vote. The measure now moves onto the State Senate where it must obtain approval before the governor may sign it into law.

The Assembly voted to suspend its normal rules, which would not have allowed a vote on AB125 during this morning’s session. According to media reports, a deal was struck which allowed proponents of the bill to suspend these rules and allow for today’s vote in return for granting opponents of the bill the ability to ask a series of questions about it from the floor of the Assembly.

Assemblyman Ira Hansen, who is chair of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary that earlier heard testimony and passed AB125 and who is also a plumbing contractor, rose in defense of the bill and gave a history of the attempts at reforming Chapter 40 over nearly two decades. He noted the bipartisan efforts at crafting construction defect reform legislation over the years, much of which is incorporated into AB125.

AB125 will now head to the Nevada State Senate. It must be voted on and passed by a Senate committee, then by the full Senate, then signed by Governor Brian Sandoval before it can become law. Construction defect was one of the reforms Governor Sandoval specifically mentioned favoring during his State of the State speech in January.