Assembly Bill 111, introduced by Assembly Member Brian Hibbetts as "Jaya's Law," would restore criminal penalties for driving the wrong way on a divided highway by making the offense a misdemeanor. Hibbetts said the bill was prompted by a December 9, 2023 wrong‑way crash on U.S. 95 that killed three people, including his constituent’s 3‑year‑old granddaughter, Jaya Brooks. He told the committee the existing statute (NRS 484B.227) is a civil infraction as of January 2023 and that AB 111 would return the conduct to criminal status in order to increase public awareness and deterrence.

"AB 111 simply makes driving the wrong way on a divided highway a misdemeanor," Assembly Member Brian Hibbetts told the committee. Hibbetts supplied dispatch and crash data: Las Vegas‑area dispatch searches showed 634 reported wrong‑way drivers in 2024 for one jurisdiction; the Nevada Highway Patrol reported 731 wrong‑way calls statewide in 2024 and said those calls included 123 wrong‑way crashes that produced 49 fatalities. Hibbetts said the problem is frequent and often does not result in criminal charges because the statute was made civil in prior legislation.

Family members and first responders urged passage. Jan Brooks, the victim’s father, described the personal loss: "I won't get another birthday, another second to speak with her," and said his daughter’s death leaves a permanent void. Andrea Rainey, Jaya’s grandmother, described the crash’s impact and asked lawmakers to act on behalf of families and communities. The committee also heard support from law‑enforcement groups, including the Las Vegas Police Managers and Supervisors Association, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Nevada District Attorneys Association and the Nevada Police Union, as well as city and county representatives and firefighter organizations.

Supporters argued that making wrong‑way driving a criminal offense would strengthen deterrence and public awareness; the sponsor noted prosecutorial discretion would remain for charging decisions and that misdemeanor status would allow prosecutors to pursue criminal cases when appropriate. No organized opposition appeared at the hearing. The committee closed the hearing after testimony; no vote was taken that day.