Sen. Edgar Flores

Maddy summarySB 234 requires Nevada's Medicaid program to cover emergency medical care for non-citizens who would otherwise be ineligible due to immigration status. It mandates coverage for emergency transportation, emergency room care, inpatient services directly related to an emergency, and limited follow-up care for kidney disease or cancer (with prior approval from the Department of Health and Human Services). The bill specifically excludes non-emergency care and aligns state Medicaid coverage with existing federal emergency medical condition requirements. This policy change directly affects non-citizens in Nevada facing urgent health crises who previously lacked access to these essential services.

Maddy summaryAB 145 strengthens oversight of veterans' benefit assistance and expands state support programs. It requires anyone helping veterans file claims with federal or state agencies (like the VA or Nevada Department of Veterans Services) to be accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, with exceptions for unpaid help or when federal law already applies. The bill also creates a state Veterans Coordinator to manage two new programs: a veteran hiring initiative for state jobs (including spouses of veterans) and a peer mentor program for veterans employed by the state. Additionally, it extends free annual state park permits to surviving spouses, parents, or adult children of service members killed in action. These changes directly affect veterans, their families, state employees, and individuals seeking veterans' benefits.

Maddy summarySB 172 extends Nevada's existing labor protections to agricultural workers by removing exemptions that previously allowed employers to value lodging and meals more highly when calculating wages. It creates an "Agricultural Workers' Bill of Rights" requiring employers to provide agricultural workers with reasonable housing access for visitors, access to service providers during work hours, and prohibiting restrictions on entering/exiting housing. The bill also bans certain hand-weeding methods requiring stooped positions and mandates employers to post notices about these rights. These changes directly affect agricultural workers in Nevada by applying standard wage calculation rules and new workplace protections previously limited to non-agricultural employees.

Maddy summaryAB 310 appropriates $250,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and another $250,000 for 2026-2027 from the State General Fund to The Immigrant Home Foundation. The funding specifically supports mental health services and legal assistance for victims of domestic violence. The foundation must submit detailed spending reports to the legislature by December 2026 and September 2027, and any unspent funds must revert to the state by September 2027. This bill directly affects domestic violence victims in Nevada who receive services through the foundation.

Maddy summarySB 155 amends Nevada law to allow the employment of non-U.S. citizens who are legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law as peace officers (such as police officers and sheriff's deputies), effective January 1, 2026. It directly affects peace officers, law enforcement agencies, and non-citizen residents with valid work authorization who meet all other hiring requirements. The bill prohibits the Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission from requiring U.S. citizenship in its regulations for peace officer appointments, voiding any conflicting existing rules. This change modifies the current requirement that only U.S. citizens or wards may be employed as peace officers, expanding eligibility while maintaining other qualification standards.

Maddy summarySB 301 expands collective bargaining rights to include specific state peace officers. It revises Nevada law to define "employee" for bargaining purposes to cover category I, II, and III peace officers working in the unclassified service of the State. This directly affects those peace officers, who were previously excluded from collective bargaining under existing law (NRS 288.400-288.630). The bill’s key mechanism is amending the definition of "employee" in state law, allowing these officers to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions with the Executive Department. The change applies solely to state-level employees and has a fiscal impact on the state, per the bill's note.

Maddy summarySJR 10 is a non-binding resolution urging Congress to take action supporting the therapeutic use of specific psychedelic compounds like psilocybin, MDMA, and ibogaine for mental health conditions. It cites FDA Breakthrough Therapy designations and clinical trial results showing promising outcomes for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. The resolution specifically references studies demonstrating significant symptom reduction in veterans and patients with mental health disorders. It does not create new laws or regulations but calls on federal lawmakers to advance research and access for these treatments.

Maddy summarySB 266 expands Nevada's Student Loan Repayment Program for healthcare providers in underserved communities by adding new professions to the eligible list. It specifically includes marriage and family therapists, clinical alcohol and drug counselors, and licensed/certified alcohol and drug counselors as "providers of health care" under the program. This change makes loan repayment benefits available to these mental health and substance abuse professionals who work in underserved areas. The bill amends NRS 226.454 to add these roles to the existing list of covered healthcare providers and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 299 changes how senior living community referral agencies operate in Nevada. Instead of requiring a license from the State Board of Health, the bill mandates these agencies register with the Division of Public and Behavioral Health under the Department of Health and Human Services. To register, agencies must submit an application (including a U.S. physical address), provide liability insurance proof, and pay a $1,354 fee for a two-year registration period, with renewal requiring the same steps. Agencies currently operating without a license may continue until 120 days after the Division adopts required regulations.

Maddy summarySB 189 establishes a licensing system for genetic counselors, requiring them to obtain a license from the Board of Medical Examiners through specific education, examinations, and certification. It prohibits unlicensed practice except for physicians providing genetic counseling within their medical scope or federal government employees. The bill extends existing health care provider rules - including confidentiality protections, billing standards, and disciplinary procedures - to genetic counselors and grants the Board authority to set licensing fees and enforce compliance.