Sen. John Steinbeck

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.

Maddy summarySB 114 requires landlords managing properties with over 200 dwelling units on a single parcel to implement two key policies: (1) conduct criminal background checks for job applicants who would handle apartment keys, and (2) create written procedures for securely storing, issuing, and tracking all apartment keys. Landlords must also maintain a log of key issuance and return, and provide proof of compliance to the Real Estate Division or law enforcement upon request. This bill directly affects large-property landlords (excluding financial institutions and real estate brokers) by adding specific background check and key management requirements to their operations.

Maddy summarySB 379 regulates solar financing companies that provide loans, leases, or power purchase agreements for residential solar systems (distributed generation systems). It prohibits financiers from charging excessive fees, requires them to verify solar installers hold proper licenses, and mandates clear disclosure of loan terms. Consumers gain extended rescission rights (3 business days for under 60, 10 days for 60+), and financiers cannot disconnect systems for single missed payments. The law also bans deceptive advertising and requires specific recordings for transactions, becoming effective after Governor approval on June 5, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 373 requires Clark County (the only Nevada county with over 700,000 residents) and all incorporated cities within it to create a unified multi-jurisdictional business license system. It mandates that county commissioners and city governing bodies adopt ordinances establishing license categories, revenue-sharing, and a system for issuing licenses that replaces separate county and city permits for specified businesses. The law requires jurisdictions to coordinate agreements ensuring existing fees, renewal periods, and regulatory requirements for businesses are similar before creating the unified license. The system must integrate with Nevada’s state business portal, streamlining applications for businesses operating across multiple local jurisdictions in Clark County. The bill passed unanimously and became law on June 5, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 304 removes a requirement that a person must have previously been convicted of at least three offenses to be charged with vehicular homicide in Nevada. The bill amends Nevada Revised Statute 484C.130 to eliminate this prior conviction element, meaning prosecutors no longer need to prove three prior convictions for a vehicular homicide charge. The law now focuses solely on whether the defendant was driving under the influence (including alcohol, controlled substances, or other prohibited substances) and proximately caused a death. This change directly affects individuals charged with vehicular homicide in Nevada, streamlining the legal standard for such cases.

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 summarySB 399 removes fees for spouses of veterans buried in Nevada's state veterans' cemeteries. The bill amends existing law (NRS 417.210) to explicitly prohibit the Director of Veterans Services from charging a fee for the interment of a veteran's spouse, while maintaining fee-free burial for veterans themselves and other immediate family members. This directly affects spouses of eligible veterans seeking burial in state-operated veterans' cemeteries. The key mechanism is a clear statutory change to the fee structure, ensuring spouses are exempt from costs that may have previously applied. The bill does not alter eligibility requirements or burial procedures for veterans or other family members.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new exemption to Nevada's tuition policy, prohibiting the University of Nevada Board of Regents from charging out-of-state tuition to surviving spouses or children of first responders killed while performing their duties in Nevada. It directly affects these family members of fallen police officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel who qualify under Nevada law (NRS 193.1678). The key mechanism amends existing law (NRS 396.540) to explicitly include this group among those exempt from tuition charges at Nevada's public universities. This change applies to all campuses within the Nevada System of Higher Education and does not require residency verification.

Maddy summarySB 413 allocates $2 million annually for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years to fund Nevada’s Nonprofit Security Grant Pilot Program. The program provides grants to tax-exempt nonprofits (501(c)(3) organizations) in Nevada facing threats of violence, covering up to $10,000 for security personnel or $50,000 for security equipment. Priority is given to nonprofits at highest risk and those not receiving federal security funding in the prior two years. Unspent funds must revert to the state general fund by September 2026/2027, with no more than 5% of funds used for program administration.

Maddy summaryAB 250 protects debtors who incurred debt due to economic abuse or coerced debt (like debt from domestic violence, identity theft, or fraud). If a debtor provides documentation, creditors must immediately stop all collection efforts (including wage garnishment or lawsuits), dismiss ongoing cases, and refund payments made. Credit reporting agencies must investigate and remove such debt from credit reports if verified. This directly affects debtors in abusive situations, creditors, and credit bureaus by altering debt collection and reporting practices for these specific cases.