Health and Human Services

SB 466 transfers regulatory authority for food establishments, cottage food operations, and farm-to-fork events from the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (Health and Human Services) to the State Department of Agriculture and local health boards. It increases the annual sales limit for cottage food operations from $35,000 to $100,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) and expands farm-to-fork event rules to allow meat from livestock under specific conditions. Counties must now pay assessments to the Agriculture Department for food safety services instead of the previous Division, with fees adjusted to ensure departmental financial stability. The bill also moves water and food safety regulation authority from the State Board of Health to the Agriculture Department. (Effective as Chapter 512, approved June 10, 2025.)

AB 234 requires Nevada's Medicaid program to cover screening for lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer, expanding existing coverage that already includes breast and cervical cancer screenings. This policy directly affects Medicaid recipients in Nevada by adding three new cancer screening options to their covered services. The bill mandates the state health agency to include all proven screening methods for these cancers under Medicaid, with a requirement to seek federal approval for funding through waivers if needed. This change builds upon current Medicaid coverage without altering existing eligibility or cost-sharing rules for beneficiaries.

SB 494 creates the Nevada Health Authority to replace the Department of Health and Human Services for managing key health programs and services. The new Authority will include three divisions (Medicaid, Health Care Purchasing and Compliance, and Consumer Health) and assume responsibility for programs like Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Public Employees’ Benefits Program. It transfers administration of the Graduate Medical Education Grant Program from the Office of Science, Innovation and Technology to the Consumer Health Division and updates the department name to "Department of Human Services." The bill also establishes the Nevada Health Authority Gift Fund to accept donations and updates related naming conventions.

AB 514 requires Nevada's Medicaid program to cover therapeutic group homes for individuals with serious mental illnesses. This directly affects Medicaid recipients who need community-based mental health care, expanding access beyond current coverage. The bill defines "therapeutic group home" as a community-based living arrangement supporting independent living for these individuals and mandates the state to establish coverage methods, seek necessary federal waivers, and apply for Medicaid plan amendments to secure funding. It does not change existing Medicaid eligibility but adds a specific service category to required coverage under federal funding rules.

SB 295 updates regulations for sidewalk vendors and compact food carts in counties or cities with populations of 100,000 or more (currently Clark and Washoe Counties). It requires local health boards to create and post online in multiple languages clear guidelines, approved food lists, and model menus for vendors. Compact food cart vendors must register annually with the health board, pay a fee (if established), and follow posted rules, while sidewalk vendors must comply with the published guidelines. The bill also exempts compact food carts and vendors selling only whole produce or prepackaged non-hazardous food from being classified as "food establishments," avoiding certain existing regulatory requirements.