Rep. Steve Yeager

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally expresses the Nevada Assembly's appreciation to its staff for their service during the 83rd Legislative Session. It specifically commends Chief Clerk Bonnie Borda Hoffecker and all Assembly staff for maintaining records, supporting legislators, and meeting the session's constitutional deadline. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely a ceremonial expression of gratitude with no binding requirements or changes to law.

Maddy summaryAB 358 appropriates over $1.4 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and over $2.5 million for 2026-2027 from the State General Fund to the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra. This funding supports Nevada’s implementation of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which mails free books to children under age 5, directly benefiting families statewide. The bill requires quarterly reports on spending and mandates unused funds be returned to the state treasury by specific dates (September 2026/2027). It also allocates separate funding for administrative costs ($315,000 in 2025-2026, $347,250 in 2026-2027) with similar reporting and fiscal accountability requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 148 changes Nevada's mail ballot distribution deadlines for in-state voters, shifting the requirement from "20 days before" to "between the fifth and fourth Mondays before" the election. County clerks can now allow voters to request mail ballots earlier than this window, while still requiring sample ballots to be sent to all registered voters before the mail ballot deadline. The bill affects all active registered voters in Nevada, including those voting in-person or by mail, and ensures sample ballots include all election details like candidate information and ballot measures. These changes align mail ballot timing with new scheduling requirements while maintaining existing voter access rules.

Maddy summaryAB 306 requires county clerks in Nevada to establish designated mail ballot drop box locations during a specific period before general elections. It directly affects voters in counties with populations over 100,000: Clark County (700,000+ people) must provide 10 locations open 7+ hours daily, Washoe County (100,000-700,000) must provide 5 locations, and smaller counties may set their own locations and hours. The bill ensures ballots dropped in these designated boxes during the specified period count as valid votes for the general election. It modifies existing election procedures to standardize mail ballot drop-off access in larger counties while allowing flexibility for smaller jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryAB 191 authorizes collective bargaining for professional employees of state professional employers (such as the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada with 400+ professional staff) who are in unclassified service or paid outside standard classified pay plans. It establishes new procedures for recognizing professional organizations as exclusive bargaining representatives, requires state employers to negotiate within 60 days of notice, and allows salary deductions for union dues. The bill also grants professional employees the right to representation during disciplinary actions and mandates annual reporting to the Government Employee-Management Relations Board. This directly affects state professional employers and their employees, creating a structured framework for collective bargaining previously limited to other state employee groups.

Maddy summaryAB 480 updates Nevada's Fair Housing Law to allow discrimination claims based on the *effects* of housing practices, not just the *intent* behind them. It directly affects landlords, housing providers, and individuals filing complaints by establishing that a practice may be discriminatory if it causes a disproportionate negative impact on protected groups (like race, disability, or sexual orientation), even without intentional bias. The bill sets clear rules: complainants must first prove a practice causes disparate impact, then the housing provider must show the practice is necessary for legitimate reasons and no less discriminatory alternative exists. This change aligns Nevada law with federal standards for addressing systemic housing bias while maintaining due process for providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts government agencies and government-funded organizations (like schools or contractors receiving public funds) from using patented products in ways that violate the patent holder's terms, product instructions, or federal approval limits. It requires these entities to send written notice to the patent holder and manufacturer detailing their intended use, then wait 30 days before proceeding if no objection is received. If a patent holder objects within that period, the entity must stop the use immediately. The law applies specifically to products covered by U.S. patents or federal agency approvals.

Maddy summaryAB 343 requires Nevada hospitals to publicly list standard charges for all services and create an online price estimator for services patients can schedule in advance, updating these annually. Hospitals must publish these lists prominently on their websites and cannot collect medical debt if they fail to comply with these transparency rules. Violations trigger penalties, including debt cancellation and refunds, and allow patients to file claims with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. The law applies to all Nevada hospitals and health care entities, aligning state requirements with existing federal standards for pricing transparency.

Maddy summarySB 435 requires manufacturers of vapor products containing nicotine to submit certifications to Nevada's Attorney General proving compliance with federal marketing rules. The Attorney General must create and maintain a public directory of approved products, making it unlawful to sell any vapor product not listed in this directory after its publication. Retailers, distributors, and wholesalers of these products will face annual unannounced inspections, and violations carry civil penalties. The bill directly affects nicotine product manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating in Nevada.

Maddy summaryAB 500 establishes a new licensing and regulatory framework for "payments banks" under Nevada’s Commissioner of Financial Institutions. It allows these banks to offer services like sending money, holding deposits, and processing credit card transactions - similar to traditional banks - but explicitly prohibits them from making loans or engaging in loan-related activities. Payments banks must pay a small fee (0.0025% per transaction) on merchant services, maintain FDIC insurance for deposits (or secure alternative coverage), and meet strict capital requirements. The bill directly affects payments banks operating in Nevada, the Commissioner’s office (as regulator), and merchants using these services.