SB 475 allocates state funds to the Division of State Parks for specific equipment and vehicle replacements. It provides $113,586 for IT equipment and $2.5 million annually for park maintenance in fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, plus $517,965 for ranger equipment/vehicles and over $7 million for vehicle replacements (including $5.55 million for standard vehicles and $1.37 million for utility equipment). All funds must be spent by specified deadlines in 2026-27 or revert to the State General Fund. The bill directly affects the Division of State Parks by funding operational equipment and infrastructure needs.
AB 284 requires Nevada's Medicaid program to request federal approval for covering at least 82% of the cost for vagus nerve stimulation therapy devices used to treat epilepsy and their replacement parts. This directly affects Medicaid patients with epilepsy who rely on these specific devices for treatment. The bill clarifies that reimbursement for the devices themselves must be separate from and in addition to costs for implanting or repairing them. It also allocates state funds ($54,728 for 2025-26 and $240,004 for 2026-27) to cover administrative costs of implementing this change.
AB 515 updates Nevada's adoption assistance program funding for Clark and Washoe Counties (the only counties with populations over 100,000 eligible for this grant). It requires the state to base grant amounts on both projected program costs *and* the adoption savings calculated from the previous fiscal year, as mandated by federal law. The bill also extends the time unused adoption savings can be carried forward from one to two fiscal years, allowing counties to use these funds for any child welfare service costs during that period instead of returning them to the state general fund after one year. This change provides more flexibility for counties to manage funds while aligning with federal requirements.
SB 20 modifies how justice courts handle jury trials and record-keeping. It allows audio recordings instead of certified court reporters for jury trials (replacing NRS 175.011), requires audio recordings of certain criminal cases to be kept for at least 5 years (amending NRS 4.420), and permits jury commissioners to exclude public assistance data from juror lists if federal law prohibits sharing it (amending NRS 6.045 and NRS 422A.343). These changes directly affect justice courts, defendants in jury trials, and jury commissioners managing juror selection. The bill focuses on updating procedural requirements for court recordings and data use in jury pools.
AB 93 expands Nevada's definition of "police officer" to include school police officers, juvenile probation officers, municipal court bailiffs/deputy marshals, city marshals/deputy marshals, and all category I peace officers. This change directly affects these public safety workers by extending their eligibility for specific benefits and exemptions previously limited to traditional police officers. Key provisions include applying existing industrial insurance coverage, jury exemption, disability compensation, and survivor benefit programs (under NRS 6.020, 281.153, 287.021, and 287.0477) to the newly included roles. The bill also clarifies that departmental designations used by the Department of Public Safety do not exclude eligible employees from this expanded definition. This is a policy change to align benefits with current public safety roles, not a new benefit creation.
SB 104 allocates $200,000 annually for two fiscal years to fund school garden programs at Nevada public schools through approved nonprofit organizations. The bill requires these programs to include desert-tailored STEM curricula for grades K-12, involve community members like farmers and chefs, and provide student opportunities to operate farmer's markets and learn cooking with garden produce. Nonprofits must have at least two years of experience implementing such programs and report all expenditures to the legislature by specified deadlines. The funding specifically supports garden creation, maintenance, and teacher training focused on science, technology, engineering, and math education.
SB 344 requires most health insurance plans, including Medicaid, to cover noninvasive prenatal blood screenings for genetic conditions in fetuses and carrier screenings for genetic disorders in parents, without requiring prior authorization. This applies to all insurers offering health coverage, mandating that these specific screenings be included in policies as standard benefits. The bill removes barriers like prior approval requests that could delay or deny access to these screenings during pregnancy. It directly affects insurers by expanding coverage requirements and benefits patients seeking early detection of genetic conditions.
AB 568 allocates $22.4 million to the University of Nevada, Reno, $23.6 million to UNLV, and smaller sums to other Nevada higher education institutions (including UNLV Law School, Dental School, Nevada State University, and community colleges) for cost-of-living salary adjustments for their staff. The bill directs these state funds specifically for personnel salary increases, not new programs or services. Unspent funds must be returned to the State General Fund by September 17, 2027. The appropriations become effective July 1, 2025, and are part of the state budget.
SB 319 requires Washoe County, Reno, and Sparks to form a study board through a collaborative agreement. This board would examine creating a county-wide fire protection district covering unincorporated areas and city territories within Washoe County. The bill does not establish the district itself but mandates a formal study to assess feasibility and structure. It affects local governments by requiring them to initiate this planning process, with the study board needing approval from all participating entities. The summary focuses solely on the procedural requirement for the study, not on potential outcomes or district operations.
AB 376 establishes a 4-year Regulatory Experimentation Program for insurance innovation, allowing authorized insurers to test new property insurance products (covering real or personal property in Nevada) without full compliance with Nevada Insurance Code rules. Insurers must apply to the Commissioner for approval within 90 days, with products limited to 36 months of testing (extendable by 12 months). The program requires specific consumer disclosures before offering new products and mandates the Commissioner to report on the program by 2029. Additional provisions include a streamlined rate filing process for certain property insurance and updates to rules for reciprocal/captive insurers, such as allowing captive insurers to offer homeowners’ coverage.
SB 277 requires every public school (including charter schools) to employ a full-time school social worker when funding is available, and prohibits schools from contracting with outside providers for these services when feasible. The bill also updates licensing rules to allow current school social workers or counselors to complete required internship hours while employed, rather than needing to leave their positions. This directly affects public schools, their staffing decisions, and the licensing process for school support staff. The policy changes aim to increase in-school mental health support by mandating dedicated staff and streamlining credentialing.
SB 133 appropriates $250,000 for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years from the State General Fund to the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement. This funding supports existing civics education programs in Nevada's K-12 schools (such as National History Day and We the People) and expands programs for adults. The bill requires the Center to submit detailed spending reports to the legislature by specific deadlines and mandates that any unspent funds revert to the State General Fund by September 2026 or 2027. The bill became law on July 1, 2025, after passing unanimously in both chambers and receiving gubernatorial approval.
