Sen. John Steinbeck

Maddy summarySB 309 revises laws about driving under the influence of alcohol or prohibited substances. It expands the list of banned substances to include fentanyl and MDMA (street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine), and changes marijuana metabolite rules to apply to misdemeanor cases. The bill lowers the alcohol concentration threshold requiring a substance use disorder evaluation from 0.18% to 0.16%, and modifies treatment program eligibility for repeat offenders. These changes directly affect drivers who operate vehicles while impaired by alcohol or these substances.

Maddy summarySB 376 modifies Nevada's industrial insurance rules to help certain firefighters, police officers, and arson investigators with occupational lung or heart disease. It allows these workers to choose their own treating physician or chiropractor when the state's official panel has fewer than 12 qualified providers in their specialty who accept new patients and can schedule appointments within 30 days. The bill also establishes a reimbursement process: if the worker or their insurer pays for treatment upfront, the employer or insurer must reimburse the full cost within 30 days (with a 2x penalty for delays). These changes specifically apply to claims filed under NRS 617.455 and 617.457.

Maddy summarySB 231 establishes new rules for pharmacies and hospitals operating secure drug take-back bins to collect unused medications from homes. It requires clear signage about acceptable items, monitored access hours, regular inspections, and reporting theft/tampering to law enforcement within one business day. The bill prohibits collectors from charging customers for bin maintenance and shields compliant collectors from liability (except for gross negligence). Additionally, it allocates $500,000 from Nevada’s opioid settlement fund to help cover the cost of destroying collected medications.

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 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.

Maddy summarySB 213 expands the definition of "intimate image" to include photorealistic, digital, computer, and computer-generated images that a reasonable person would believe depict a real person, removing a previous exception that excluded public figures. It makes it a crime to distribute such images without the depicted person's consent, with intent to harass, harm, or terrorize, but exempts individuals under 18 from criminal liability. The law now covers digital recreations of real people (e.g., deepfakes) as well as traditional intimate images, applying to anyone distributing them without consent, while including exceptions for legitimate public interest or law enforcement. The bill was enacted in June 2025 after passing the legislature and receiving gubernatorial approval.

Maddy summarySB 170 updates Nevada’s industrial insurance rules to better support firefighters and related first responders. Starting July 1, 2026, it requires full-time firefighters, arson investigators, fire training staff, and volunteer firefighters (excluding state executive department employees) to undergo annual cancer screenings and meet new physical exam standards focused on firefighting/law enforcement demands. The bill specifically lists carcinogens (like diesel exhaust, asbestos, and formaldehyde) linked to certain cancers (e.g., lung, bladder, leukemia) to streamline determining if cancer qualifies as an occupational disease under industrial insurance. These changes aim to simplify claims for first responders developing cancer linked to job exposures.

Maddy summarySB 165 establishes a new license for "behavioral health and wellness practitioners" who provide prevention and intervention services for mental health. It requires background checks, sets supervision rules for advanced nurses, and mandates Medicaid coverage for services provided by these licensed practitioners. The bill creates funding from state health care accounts to support training programs for practitioners and supervisors. Unlicensed practice of behavioral health promotion and prevention becomes a gross misdemeanor under this law.

Maddy summarySB 201 prevents homeowners' associations and landlords from banning residents from displaying religious or cultural items (like prayer flags or cultural symbols) in their private living spaces, such as on doors or in units. It allows exceptions for displays larger than 36x12 inches, those threatening safety, violating laws, or containing illegal content. Landlords and associations must give 7 days' written notice before temporarily removing displays during repairs, store items respectfully, and return them within 72 hours. This law directly affects renters and homeowners in Nevada common-interest communities and rental properties.