Sen. Carrie Buck

Maddy summaryNevada's SB 179 requires the Nevada Equal Rights Commission to consider whether discrimination claims in housing, employment, or public accommodations were motivated by antisemitism during investigations. The bill directly affects the Commission's investigative process and individuals filing discrimination complaints. It adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples, as the standard for evaluating such claims. This policy change specifically adds antisemitism as a factor to be assessed in investigations, without altering existing protections against discrimination.

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 The bill repeals an outdated requirement for corrective action plans in schools with low English learner achievement.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 376 establishes a 4-year Regulatory Experimentation Program for insurance innovation, allowing authorized insurers to test new property insurance products (covering real or personal property in Nevada) without full compliance with Nevada Insurance Code rules. Insurers must apply to the Commissioner for approval within 90 days, with products limited to 36 months of testing (extendable by 12 months). The program requires specific consumer disclosures before offering new products and mandates the Commissioner to report on the program by 2029. Additional provisions include a streamlined rate filing process for certain property insurance and updates to rules for reciprocal/captive insurers, such as allowing captive insurers to offer homeowners’ coverage.

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 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 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 summaryThis bill revises Nevada's high school sports regulations by prohibiting the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) from retaliating against schools or individuals advocating for policies. It bans athletic recruitment (e.g., schools recruiting students specifically for sports) and requires the NIAA to investigate violations, making recruited students ineligible to compete for a season. The bill also updates eligibility rules: students transferring due to military status, lottery school enrollment, or pre-10th grade transfers gain immediate eligibility, while schools cannot impose stricter rules than NIAA regulations. Finally, it clarifies appeal processes for disputes over eligibility or decisions.

Maddy summarySB 348 establishes a $150 fee for required genetic testing of infants (with annual inflation adjustments) at the State Public Health Laboratory, directly affecting hospitals and health providers who perform these tests. It creates a new licensing system for genetic counselors through the Board of Medical Examiners, requiring education, exams, and certification, while exempting physicians and federal employees from this licensing. The bill also mandates Medicaid coverage for genetic counseling services and outlines disciplinary procedures for unlicensed practice or misconduct. These changes primarily impact genetic counselors, healthcare providers, Medicaid patients, and the State Public Health Laboratory.

Maddy summaryAB 394 requires all public colleges and universities in Nevada to create emergency response plans for opioid overdoses. These plans must include education about opioid overdoses and procedures for easily accessing naloxone (a medication that reverses overdoses), while prohibiting any requirement for training before obtaining or using naloxone. The bill allows institutions to customize their plans (e.g., training methods, naloxone locations) but mandates core elements like rescue breathing emphasis and 4mg naloxone dosing. The Board of Regents may provide a model plan for guidance but cannot force institutions to adopt it.

Maddy summarySB 316 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the companies that manage prescription drug coverage for insurers. It prohibits PBMs from steering patients to affiliated pharmacies, requiring them to disclose fees and rebates to insurers, and mandating that PBMs pass all rebates to insurers. Insurers must then use these rebate funds exclusively to lower premiums or reduce patient cost-sharing for prescriptions, and cannot charge patients more than the insurer pays for a drug. This directly affects PBMs, health insurers, and patients by increasing transparency and reducing out-of-pocket costs.