Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro

Maddy summarySB 352 amends Nevada law to prohibit health insurers and health care providers from discriminating against patients based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or gender identity/expression. The bill expands existing protections by adding race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability to the list of prohibited discrimination bases in health insurance policies and health care services. It also authorizes Nevada's health care licensing agencies to create specific anti-discrimination regulations and discipline providers who violate these rules. This applies directly to all health insurance companies, Medicaid, and health care facilities operating in Nevada.

Maddy summarySB 378 requires healthcare providers to give patients their electronic health records within 7 business days at no cost, and prohibits using paid health information exchanges to meet electronic record-keeping requirements. It updates licensing for independent emergency medical centers, mandating no fees for licenses, requiring urgent care during all operating hours, and obligating the state to collect and publicly share data on these centers' operations and patient outcomes. The bill also limits electronic health information exchange rules to specific providers (like doctors and hospitals) while exempting small practices from some requirements, though they must still provide records electronically upon patient request.

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 summarySB 414 expands Nevada's financial disclosure requirements to include certain state employees appointed by constitutional officers (e.g., governors, attorneys general) who serve "at the pleasure" of those officials and are not part of the state's classified or unclassified workforce. It lowers disclosure thresholds: requiring reporting of real estate valued at $2,500+ (removing geographic limits) and business holdings/securities valued at $5,000+ (previously 1% ownership). The bill also mandates inaugural committees to report contributions/expenditures and requires newly elected constitutional officers to report transition-related finances. These changes apply to public officers, state employees, and candidates for office, broadening transparency for financial interests.

Maddy summarySB 275 revises Nevada's domestic relations laws to protect children and parents in custody disputes. It prohibits courts from removing children from a capable parent or restricting parent-child contact solely to improve relationships, and bans requiring "reunification treatment" (therapy to reconnect children with rejected parents) without specific court findings of safety and effectiveness. The bill also sets strict standards for admitting domestic violence or child abuse evidence in custody cases, requiring expert testimony from professionals with relevant clinical experience, not forensic expertise. Additionally, it mandates ongoing training for family court judges on domestic violence, child abuse, and best practices. These changes directly affect parents, children, and judges in custody proceedings involving domestic violence allegations.

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 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 347 requires law enforcement officers to immediately confiscate firearms owned or possessed by individuals placed on a mental health crisis hold in Nevada (typically lasting up to 72 hours). Officers must provide a receipt describing the firearm and a notice of return procedures at the time of confiscation. The bill also mandates that mental health facilities provide release-day notices about firearm return processes and inform law enforcement of the release. Within 30 days of release, law enforcement must file a court petition to determine if returning the firearm would pose a serious safety risk, with courts able to order retention, sale, or destruction if harm is likely. This bill directly affects individuals temporarily detained under mental health crisis holds and establishes a standardized process for firearm handling during these incidents.

Maddy summarySB 263 expands Nevada's laws against child pornography to explicitly include computer-generated images and videos depicting minors in sexual situations. It makes creating, distributing, or possessing such computer-generated content a felony, with stricter penalties for repeat offenses (minimum 10-year prison term for second offenses). The bill also clarifies that possessing the same material cannot be charged under both this law and the existing possession statute, and requires anyone convicted under these provisions to register as a sex offender. The law, approved by the Governor on June 6, 2025, applies directly to individuals who produce, share, or keep such digital content.

Maddy summarySB 257 updates Nevada's autism healthcare regulations to improve access to diagnosis and treatment. It removes specific requirements for autism assessments, replacing them with a flexible standard that allows any healthcare provider within their scope of practice to conduct direct observation and assessment for diagnosis. The bill also changes insurance coverage rules: insurers must cover autism diagnosis and treatment performed by any qualified provider (not limited to physicians or psychologists) and must accept any diagnosis meeting the new statewide standard. This affects individuals with autism spectrum disorders, healthcare providers, and insurers by streamlining access to care.