Maddy summaryAB 460 allows parents or guardians to formally nominate a future guardian for a minor by submitting a signed form (with two witnesses) to Nevada's electronic Lockbox system. It creates two new legal presumptions that temporary guardianship is in a minor's best interest if: (1) no parent has cared for the child for 6+ months, or (2) parents are separated due to a federal immigration order. The bill expands support for relatives caring for children by allowing younger relatives (under the usual age requirement) to access financial assistance if the child was separated from parents due to immigration. It also appropriates funds to the Department of Education for trauma support services for students affected by trauma. These changes directly affect families navigating guardianship, child welfare systems, and community support programs in Nevada.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 400 ensures continuity of special education services for students with disabilities who transfer schools. It requires schools to provide comparable services to the previous Individualized Education Program (IEP) during transition, until a new IEP is adopted (for in-state transfers) or an evaluation and new IEP are completed (for out-of-state transfers). The bill also mandates that teachers must pass subject-specific competency tests and obtain Department of Education endorsements to teach music or art in most schools, with exceptions for small districts (under 200,000 students) and very small schools (under 500 students), plus temporary exemptions during teacher shortages. These changes align Nevada’s policies with federal special education requirements and update teacher certification standards.
Maddy summaryAB 335 requires school districts to appoint an administrator to support English learner students and mandates principals to consult this administrator when creating school improvement plans. The bill specifically directs schools with 10%+ English learners to prioritize closing achievement gaps between these students and proficient peers, setting quantitative goals for their progress. It also requires all teachers to complete English language acquisition training by 2030 and mandates that student data for newcomers be disaggregated without negatively affecting school or staff performance ratings. The bill repeals an outdated requirement for corrective action plans in schools with low English learner achievement. These changes directly affect school districts, principals, teachers, and English learner students across Nevada.
Maddy summaryAB 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.
Maddy summarySB 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.
Maddy summarySB 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.
Maddy summarySB 305 requires Nevada’s Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) to officially sanction lacrosse as a school sport by January 2026, establishing specific rules for eligibility, competition, season timing, and safety. It mandates the NIAA to create the "Pipeline Infrastructure Fund" to support school sports infrastructure, including hiring staff and managing programs, and allows the fund to accept donations. The bill also directs the NIAA to conduct a study on developing student athletes into professionals, with findings reported to lawmakers by 2027. These changes directly affect Nevada public school students participating in interscholastic sports and the NIAA’s operational responsibilities.
Maddy summarySB 280 appropriates $2.9 million from the State General Fund to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine to create a dedicated cleft and craniofacial medical team. The team must provide dental and medical care to children under 3 years old, and potentially children with special needs aged 3-18, through clinics open at least 4 hours per day, one day monthly (or more if resources allow). The bill requires the team to obtain accreditation from the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association and establish partnerships with other Nevada educational institutions. All funds must be spent by September 17, 2027, with unused amounts reverting to the State General Fund. This bill directly affects children in Nevada with cleft lip/palate or craniofacial conditions who would access these new services.
Maddy summarySCR 3 is a Nevada Senate Concurrent Resolution directing the Joint Interim Standing Committee on the Judiciary to conduct an interim study on human trafficking. The study will examine current legal processes, victim services (including programs by the Division of Child and Family Services), stakeholder resources, training policies from other states, and strategies to adapt domestic violence frameworks to trafficking cases. It does not create new laws but will produce recommendations for the 2025-2026 legislative session. This resolution affects the Judiciary Committee and relevant stakeholders like the Nevada Human Trafficking Coalition.
Maddy summarySB 130 creates a new restricted contractor license for individuals to perform limited remodeling work on existing single-family homes, specifically for projects up to $7,000 (including labor and materials). To qualify, applicants must have at least two years of relevant trade experience, complete a business counseling course within the past year, and provide a $2,000 bond. The license is valid for two years, renewable under Board regulations, and allows holders to upgrade to a full contractor license after two years with no unresolved complaints. It directly affects small-scale home remodelers who don’t meet standard licensing requirements but wish to work within defined project limits.