Sen. John Steinbeck

Maddy summarySB 325 requires counties and cities with animal shelters (or nonprofit shelters operating under contract) to create a program waiving adoption fees for veterans, law enforcement officers, and first responders. The program applies to pets aged 6+ months that have been in the shelter for at least 7 consecutive days, with one waiver per eligible person within a 6-month period. Shelters must verify the adopter’s status, maintain records, and report adoption data to local governments, which then submit annual reports to the Department of Veterans Services. The bill mandates these programs take effect by October 2026 and requires the Department to compile annual reports for the Legislature.

Maddy summaryAB 81 exempts Nevada from federal law requiring seasonal time changes (daylight saving time). If enacted, Nevada would observe Pacific Standard Time year-round instead of switching clocks twice annually. This applies to all state agencies and local governments across Nevada. The exemption would take effect on July 1, 2025, under federal law (15 U.S.C. § 260a).

Maddy summarySB 202 amends Nevada laws defining housebreaking and unlawful occupancy by making it a crime to intentionally procure or offer a false or forged written rental agreement to commit either offense. The bill directly affects individuals attempting to illegally occupy vacant properties by using fake rental documents to falsely claim permission. Key provisions add this specific act to the definitions of housebreaking (NRS 205.0813) and unlawful occupancy (NRS 205.0817), with penalties including gross misdemeanors for first offenses and category D felonies for repeat violations. The law aims to prevent fraudulent use of rental agreements to circumvent property access laws.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 6) ceremonially inducts former Nevada State Senator Joyce Woodhouse into the Senate Hall of Fame. It honors her 40-year career in education (including 12 years in the Nevada Senate) and her service to Nevada, recognizing her work on education funding, healthcare, and job opportunities. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely a commemorative gesture with no legislative or financial provisions. It was formally adopted by the Nevada Senate on May 7, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SR 5) is a commemorative resolution inducting Pete Goicoechea into Nevada's Senate Hall of Fame. It honors his 22 years of public service, including 16 years on the Eureka County Board of Commissioners, 10 years in the Nevada Assembly, and 12 years in the Nevada Senate. The resolution recognizes his work supporting rural communities, agriculture, education, and natural resource management. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any policies. The resolution was adopted by the Nevada Senate on May 7, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 96 designates January 27 of each year as "International Holocaust Remembrance Day" in Nevada, directly affecting all Nevada residents through state recognition. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging observance, specifically directing state entities, schools, and media to promote public awareness about the Holocaust and other historical genocides. Key provisions include formally adding this day to Nevada’s calendar of recognized observances and mandating the Governor’s proclamation to emphasize education and remembrance. The law builds on Nevada’s prior efforts, such as Assembly Bill 231 (2021), to improve genocide education in schools. This is a non-binding observance bill focused on commemoration and education, not regulatory change.

Maddy summarySB 103 revises Nevada's mail ballot rules to require that mail ballots must be postmarked by the last day of early voting (not the election day) and received by the time polls close on election day. It mandates county and city clerks to date-mark ballots without a USPS postmark, eliminates the previous rule that counted ballots with unclear postmarks received within three days after the election, and requires secure ballot drop boxes at all polling locations. This directly affects voters mailing ballots, election officials responsible for processing ballots, and individuals returning ballots for others. The changes apply to all county and city elections in Nevada, focusing on clearer deadlines and verification processes.

Maddy summarySB 377 requires Nevada health insurers to cover at least one non-opioid alternative for every medical purpose where opioids are commonly used and a non-opioid option exists. Insurers cannot impose stricter requirements (like prior authorization) on these alternatives than they do on opioids, and must exempt patients from extra medical management steps if a provider confirms the alternative is appropriate. The law applies to all health insurance policies sold in Nevada, including group and individual plans, with new policies required to comply starting January 1, 2026. It aims to expand access to safer pain management options while preventing insurers from creating barriers to non-opioid treatments.

Maddy summarySB 248 requires every public school in Nevada to create and maintain an electronic, publicly accessible list of all print and digital materials in its library and used in classroom curricula. The list must include each item's title, author, unique book code (ISBN), and be searchable and downloadable on the school's website. It covers all books, digital resources, and instructional materials used in teaching, but excludes academic tests and audiovisual content. This bill directly affects all public schools by mandating greater transparency about educational resources available to students and families.

Maddy summarySB 195 revises Nevada's mail-in ballot rules to improve clarity and efficiency. It requires county/city clerks and the Secretary of State to inform voters about mail ballot requirements and train election staff on processing ballots. Key changes shorten deadlines: mail ballots must now be returned before the clerk's office closes (not by postmark date), and voters have only 3 days (not 6) to fix signature issues or missing information. The bill also mandates post-election reports from clerks to the Secretary of State about mail ballot processing. These changes directly affect voters casting mail ballots and election officials managing ballot processing.