LAS VEGAS (LVN) — Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo on Thursday signed Assembly Bill 6 into law at Rowe Elementary School, alongside Clark County leaders and Clark County School District officials, advancing a statewide effort to strengthen traffic safety in school zones amid growing concerns over child pedestrian safety.

The legislation, passed during the 2025 Nevada Legislature, is designed to address a rise in traffic-related incidents involving children near school campuses. AB 6 increases penalties for specific traffic violations committed within designated school zones and formally authorizes local governments to take greater control over school-zone infrastructure, including crosswalk placement, signage, and flashing crossing signals.

State and local officials have pointed to multiple recent roadway incidents involving students as a driving force behind the bill. The law aims to deter dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, illegal passing, and failure to yield in school zones, while also reducing administrative barriers that have historically slowed safety improvements.

Under AB 6, counties and municipalities gain clearer authority to design, install, and maintain safety measures around schools without relying on extended state-level approvals. This change is expected to allow faster responses to high-risk areas identified by schools, parents, or traffic engineers, particularly around elementary schools where younger students are at higher risk.

Clark County School District officials said the measure aligns with ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian safety for students who walk or bike to school, as well as for parents and staff during peak drop-off and pickup hours. Local governments are now positioned to coordinate more directly with school administrators on traffic calming measures tailored to each campus.

The law also supports broader regional goals to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries, a persistent challenge across Southern Nevada. Data from recent years show that school-zone incidents, while often preventable, can result in severe injuries when speed and visibility are not properly managed.

AB 6 is scheduled to take effect later this year. Clark County and local jurisdictions are expected to begin reviewing existing school zones, updating enforcement strategies, and prioritizing infrastructure improvements in the months ahead to comply with the new authority granted under the law.