SB 427 allocates $6.2 million from the State General Fund to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for planning a new Lee Business School building and upgrading campus security, health, and public safety facilities. It also allocates $6.2 million to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) specifically for constructing a life sciences building. Funds must be spent by June 30, 2027 (UNLV) or June 30, 2029 (UNR), with unspent balances reverting to the State General Fund by September 17, 2027 or September 21, 2029, respectively. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and directly affects these two universities and their campus operations.
SB 181 creates special Nevada State University (NSU) license plates available to drivers who pay $35 initial and $10 annual fees, plus $25 initial and $20 annual additional fees. The extra fees fund NSU athletics programs and a student support initiative providing food, supplies, clothing, and hygiene items to students, faculty, and staff. The plates cannot be used on trailers or semitrailers and are exempt from standard special license plate requirements like approval limits and minimum application thresholds. This allows NSU to directly benefit from plate sales while offering drivers a way to support the university through vehicle registration.
AB 149 requires Nevada's Cannabis Compliance Board to create rules for sharing data with research institutions, such as universities, to support cannabis industry research. It defines "research institution" as organizations focused on medical, scientific, or academic work and authorizes the Board to disclose confidential data under these new rules. The bill also allocates funding to the Cannabis Policy Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for personnel, operations, travel, and research expenses. This directly affects the Cannabis Compliance Board (which must adopt the rules) and the UNLV research institute (which receives the funding), enabling data sharing for research without altering existing confidentiality protections.
AB 379 appropriates $1 from the State General Fund to the College of Southern Nevada for developing its Northwest Campus, including the Center for Excellence in Public Safety. The bill requires all funds to be spent by September 17, 2027, with any unspent balance reverting to the State General Fund by that date. It authorizes the college to use the funds for campus development but includes strict deadlines to prevent long-term budget commitments. This is a procedural funding measure with no significant financial impact due to the nominal $1 amount.
AB 397 revises Nevada's higher education fee waiver program to provide clearer support for homeless students. It requires the Board of Regents to automatically grant fee waivers (covering registration, lab, and mandatory fees) to students under 25 who: experienced homelessness for at least six months between ages 12-25; received services from Nevada-based homeless support agencies during that time; and completed the federal student aid application annually. The bill replaces the previous "may grant" language with a mandatory "shall grant" requirement and adds documentation verification steps. It also repeals a separate requirement for analyzing natural materials requested by Nevada residents. This directly affects eligible homeless students enrolled in undergraduate programs across Nevada's public universities.
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.
This bill adds a new exemption to Nevada's tuition policy, prohibiting the University of Nevada Board of Regents from charging out-of-state tuition to surviving spouses or children of first responders killed while performing their duties in Nevada. It directly affects these family members of fallen police officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel who qualify under Nevada law (NRS 193.1678). The key mechanism amends existing law (NRS 396.540) to explicitly include this group among those exempt from tuition charges at Nevada's public universities. This change applies to all campuses within the Nevada System of Higher Education and does not require residency verification.
AB 74-82 allows the University of Nevada Board of Regents to enter agreements with public or private entities to enhance educational programs or student life. It requires such agreements to include specific provisions like cost-sharing, shared goals, and mandatory application of prevailing wage laws to any construction work under the agreement. The bill also expands public-private partnerships beyond transportation facilities to cover other types of facilities, while ensuring all agreements follow the Board's existing contract policies. This directly affects the University of Nevada System and its partnerships with external organizations.
SB 429 creates a program to reimburse universities and practicum sites (like hospitals or clinics) for costs related to social work students' supervised training. It authorizes the Nevada System of Higher Education to pay practicum sites for compensating students, covering supervisor fees, travel expenses for remote sites, and offering incentives when students become licensed social workers. The bill directly affects social work students enrolled in approved programs, their training sites, and the state university system. It includes specific requirements for supervision, discipline, and recording practices during student training but focuses primarily on funding these practical learning experiences. The legislation makes a new state appropriation to cover these program costs.
SB 472 allocates specific funds to five Nevada public colleges to cover instruction costs resulting from changes in student enrollment (caseload adjustments). It provides $2.16 million to UNLV, $145,763 to Nevada State University, $981,696 to College of Southern Nevada, $469,062 to Western Nevada College, and $1.1 million to Truckee Meadows Community College. All funds must be spent by September 17, 2027, with any unspent balances reverting to the State General Fund. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2026, and directly affects these institutions' operational budgets.
