Maddy summarySB 367 establishes a Rural and Community Media Program within the Department of Administration to improve state government outreach to rural and historically underrepresented communities. It requires state agencies spending on public outreach, marketing, or advertising to prioritize contracts with designated rural/community media outlets (defined as local nonprofits or small businesses serving specific communities) and report annually on their usage and spending. The program director must maintain a statewide media database, provide agency training on inclusive outreach strategies, and submit annual reports to the legislature detailing contracts and language accessibility. This policy directly affects all state departments and agencies conducting public engagement, mandating a shift in media spending practices to better serve underrepresented communities.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 240 reduces the state business license fee for small businesses from $200 or $500 to $100. It directly affects corporations, sole proprietorships, limited-liability companies, limited partnerships, and general partnerships that employ 50 or fewer full-time or part-time employees. The bill amends NRS 76.100 to set this lower fee for qualifying small businesses while maintaining the requirement to obtain a license. The change takes effect July 1, 2025. This is a concrete fee reduction targeting small business owners, not a procedural change.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides $12 million to Clark County and $3 million to the City of Reno for rental assistance programs targeting elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and families or individuals facing unanticipated emergencies. Funds must be spent during fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, with strict deadlines requiring recipients to submit detailed spending reports to the legislature by December 2026 and September 2027. Any unused funds must be returned to the State General Fund by September 2026 (for 2025-2026 funds) or September 2027 (for 2026-2027 funds). The bill includes audit requirements to ensure transparency in how the funds are used.
Maddy summarySB 229 lowers the grade point average requirement for Nevada students to earn a high school diploma with a "State Seal of Financial Literacy" from 3.25 to 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. It expands the age range for required financial literacy instruction from grades 3-12 to include kindergarten through grade 12. The bill also revises how students demonstrate proficiency, allowing options like scoring 85% on a state assessment or completing approved career-technical exams instead of the previous ACT certificate requirement. These changes directly affect all Nevada public school students in grades K-12 and require school districts and charter schools to implement updated curriculum and professional development.
Maddy summaryAB 82 requires Nevada's Governor to annually proclaim four specific cultural observances: Diwali Day (15th day of Hindu 8th month), Eid al-Fitr Day (1st day of Islamic 10th month), Vaisakhi Day (1st day of Sikh Vaisakh month), and Vesak Day (first full moon in May). The Governor must issue these proclamations each year, optionally encouraging media, educators, and leaders to highlight the cultural diversity behind these celebrations. The bill has no fiscal impact on state or local government and does not alter existing laws or create new obligations beyond the annual recognition. It is purely ceremonial, aligning with Nevada's existing framework for recognizing cultural observances.
Maddy summarySB 282 creates a Grocery Initiative within Nevada's Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants and technical assistance to grocery stores in designated food deserts. The initiative aims to expand access to healthy foods in areas meeting specific criteria, such as high poverty rates and limited grocery store proximity (defined as rural tracts with 33% of residents >10 miles from a store or urban tracts with similar metrics). It appropriates $10 million for the program and requires the Council on Food Security to research food insecurity in these areas and submit a legislative report. The bill directly affects grocery stores in qualifying census tracts, not general residents.
Maddy summaryAB 98 designates April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" in Nevada, requiring the Governor to annually issue a proclamation. The bill directs public schools and educational institutions to recognize and educate students about labor leader Dolores Huerta's life and contributions to labor rights. This is a commemorative measure with no fiscal impact on state or local government.
Maddy summaryAB 290 revises prior authorization rules for health and dental insurance coverage, affecting all health insurers (including Medicaid and CHIP plans) and the patients and providers who rely on them. It requires insurers to publicly list covered services needing authorization and their clinical criteria, shorten response times (48 hours for urgent care, 7 days for routine care), and prohibit denying claims if prior authorization wasn't required at the time of service. The bill also mandates disclosure of AI use in processing requests, requires physician review for denials, and bans prior authorization for emergency care. These changes aim to increase transparency, reduce delays, and protect patients from unnecessary coverage denials.
Maddy summarySB 244 requires Nevada's Medicaid program to cover specific obesity treatments and diabetes prevention services. It mandates coverage for intensive behavioral/lifestyle programs and certain obesity surgeries meeting medical guidelines, plus FDA-approved weight management drugs. The bill also requires Medicaid to cover diabetes prevention programs for eligible recipients who haven't previously used such services. These changes apply directly to Nevada Medicaid enrollees with obesity or diabetes risk factors. The law requires the state to seek federal waivers for funding and notify beneficiaries about new coverage options.
Maddy summarySB 193 establishes a state pilot program to reduce mortgage interest rates for eligible first-time homebuyers. The program, administered by the Housing Division, provides interest rate buy-downs for owner-occupied homes to families meeting specific criteria: household income at or below 160% of the county median, first-time homebuyer status (with defined exceptions for displaced homemakers and single parents), and mortgage loan eligibility. Participants can apply through the Division, with the program covering up to the full duration of the mortgage loan. The bill includes an appropriation for program implementation but does not affect local or state government budgets beyond the specified funding.