Sen. Julie Pazina

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 summarySCR 3 is a Nevada Senate Concurrent Resolution directing the Joint Interim Standing Committee on the Judiciary to conduct an interim study on human trafficking. The study will examine current legal processes, victim services (including programs by the Division of Child and Family Services), stakeholder resources, training policies from other states, and strategies to adapt domestic violence frameworks to trafficking cases. It does not create new laws but will produce recommendations for the 2025-2026 legislative session. This resolution affects the Judiciary Committee and relevant stakeholders like the Nevada Human Trafficking Coalition.

Maddy summarySB 353 creates a new billing category and establishes a single per diem reimbursement rate for specific mental health clinics serving Medicaid patients. It directly affects clinics that both provide mental health care primarily to Medicaid enrollees and train students in licensed mental health professions (like psychology, social work, or substance use counseling). The bill requires Medicaid to cover all service locations under this rate - including in-person visits, mobile clinics, services to homeless individuals, and telehealth. This change aims to streamline billing for clinics meeting these dual criteria, with implementation required by October 1, 2025.

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.

Maddy summaryAB 289 authorizes Nevada's Board of Regents to establish a required financial literacy course within the Nevada System of Higher Education, which includes the University of Nevada. This bill directly affects public universities in Nevada by giving the Board of Regents the authority to create such a course of study. The key provision adds language to Nevada law allowing the Board to prescribe financial literacy as part of the curriculum. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on June 5, 2025, and became Chapter 284.

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.

Maddy summarySB 346 updates Nevada's guardianship laws to better support adults with disabilities by strengthening the use of supported decision-making agreements (SDMAs). It defines SDMAs for legal purposes, expands the definition of "incapacitated" to include people unable to understand SDMAs, and requires courts to consider SDMAs before appointing guardians. The bill mandates that guardianship petitions include proof of SDMA education for the proposed protected person and that physicians assess whether someone understands SDMAs. It also requires guardian reports to explain why SDMAs aren't used and allows guardianship termination if a protected person enters an SDMA.