SB 427 allocates $6.2 million from the State General Fund to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for planning a new Lee Business School building and upgrading campus security, health, and public safety facilities. It also allocates $6.2 million to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) specifically for constructing a life sciences building. Funds must be spent by June 30, 2027 (UNLV) or June 30, 2029 (UNR), with unspent balances reverting to the State General Fund by September 17, 2027 or September 21, 2029, respectively. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and directly affects these two universities and their campus operations.
AB 494 ensures Nevada's education system maintains key federal protections if certain laws are repealed. If the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), or related civil rights laws are repealed, Nevada automatically continues applying those laws as they existed on July 1, 2025. This affects all Nevada schools receiving federal funding and students with disabilities, guaranteeing their rights to special education services and privacy protections remain intact. The bill also allows individuals to file civil lawsuits in Nevada courts instead of federal courts if IDEA is repealed, preserving legal recourse.
AB 596 allocates specific state funds to pay retention incentives and cover costs for annual leave cash-outs and tool allowances for certain Nevada state employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. It directs $4.9 million (FY2025-26) and $5.1 million (FY2026-27) from the State General Fund, plus smaller amounts from the Highway Fund, for employees represented under bargaining units defined in NRS 288.515 (paragraphs a, e, f), excluding Nevada System of Higher Education staff in some categories. The bill caps annual retention payments at $1,000 per employee per fiscal year for these covered positions, with funds required to be spent by specific deadlines (June 30, 2027, for commitments and September 17, 2027, for spending). This legislation directly affects state workers in designated bargaining units across various agencies, ensuring funding for negotiated benefits while maintaining fiscal accountability.
AB 479 adds "agrivoltaic purposes" to Nevada's definition of agricultural use for property tax purposes. This means land used for integrated solar energy production combined with crop or animal farming (agrivoltaics) will now qualify for the same 35% tax rate applied to traditional agricultural land. The bill directly affects landowners and developers using agrivoltaic systems by allowing them to apply for agricultural tax assessment instead of standard property taxes. It updates Nevada Revised Statute 361A.030 to define "agrivoltaic purposes" as solar and agriculture occurring together on the same land, with no change to the tax rate or assessment process.
AB 463 revises California health insurance rules for prior authorization, directly affecting insurers (including Medicaid, CHIP, and public employee plans), healthcare providers, and patients. It requires insurers to approve or deny non-urgent care requests within 48 hours and urgent care within 24 hours, mandates physician/dentist reviews for denials, and prohibits prior authorization for emergency services, preventive care, and certain chronic treatments. The bill also bans insurers from denying coverage due to missing prior authorization if it wasn’t required for that care at the time, and requires clear online disclosure of authorization procedures. Insurers must honor prior authorizations for up to 12 months (or longer for chronic conditions) and pay full rates for approved services.
AB 539 requires Nevada's Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation to establish a career coaching program in middle and junior high schools (grades 7-12), placing coaches to help students explore career pathways and develop job readiness skills. The program provides guidance inside and outside classrooms about career options and high school opportunities, with coaches collaborating with schools, businesses, and community groups. Funding depends on available money, including grants and donations, and the program applies to all students in eligible schools. It does not create new state costs, as noted in the fiscal summary.
AB 234 requires Nevada's Medicaid program to cover screening for lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer, expanding existing coverage that already includes breast and cervical cancer screenings. This policy directly affects Medicaid recipients in Nevada by adding three new cancer screening options to their covered services. The bill mandates the state health agency to include all proven screening methods for these cancers under Medicaid, with a requirement to seek federal approval for funding through waivers if needed. This change builds upon current Medicaid coverage without altering existing eligibility or cost-sharing rules for beneficiaries.
AB 296 requires Nevada's DMV to partner with licensed loan companies to offer installment payment options for vehicle registration fees through online services, capping interest at 15% and setting a $250 minimum loan amount. It establishes rules for digital license plates, mandating they display valid registration info, meet visibility standards, and be approved by the DMV, while prohibiting fees higher than conventional plates. The bill also extends a vehicle mileage tracking pilot program (requiring odometer reporting at registration) until 2030. These changes directly affect vehicle owners, licensed lenders, and digital plate vendors.
AB 304 requires Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services to create a pilot program studying electromagnetic brain pulse treatment - a noninvasive, non-drug therapy using magnetic pulses to address brainwave abnormalities. The program must identify treatment best practices, analyze patient risks, examine existing research data, and assess barriers to adopting this treatment in medical care. The department must submit a final report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Health and Human Services committee by July 1, 2027. This bill directly affects the department’s operations and future healthcare policy decisions regarding this specific treatment method.
AB 471 revises Nevada’s tax and licensing rules for remote sales of cigars and pipe tobacco. It requires online sellers to pay tax based on their actual cost (not the retail price), file monthly sales reports like wholesalers, and obtain licenses with identical fees and bonding requirements. The bill also prohibits remote sellers from claiming tax collection cost credits and clarifies inventory rules for wholesale dealers. It directly affects businesses selling cigars or pipe tobacco online or by mail to Nevada residents. These changes aim to align remote tobacco sales with existing wholesale tax and reporting standards.
AB 483 requires health licensing boards to create a process for prioritizing license applications from individuals who will provide care in historically underserved communities. It directly affects applicants seeking licenses for health professions (like paramedics, therapists, or medical technicians) who plan to work in these areas. The bill defines "historically underserved communities" as census tracts with at least 20% non-English households, HUD-designated areas, or qualified tribal lands. Licensing boards must establish this priority review system without creating new costs for applicants. The law aims to accelerate access to licensed providers in communities with limited healthcare resources.
AB 221 exempts dual-licensed physicians (those holding both medical and dental licenses) from needing a separate permit to administer anesthesia or sedation to dental patients. Currently, such physicians must obtain two permits - one from the health department and one from the dental board - but this bill allows them to use their existing dental permit for these procedures. The exemption applies only to physician offices or facilities that administer anesthesia/sedation exclusively to dental patients under the dentist’s permit scope. This eliminates redundant permitting requirements for qualified dual-licensed providers without altering standards for other anesthesia settings.
