Sen. James Ohrenschall

Maddy summarySB 193 establishes a state pilot program to reduce mortgage interest rates for eligible first-time homebuyers. The program, administered by the Housing Division, provides interest rate buy-downs for owner-occupied homes to families meeting specific criteria: household income at or below 160% of the county median, first-time homebuyer status (with defined exceptions for displaced homemakers and single parents), and mortgage loan eligibility. Participants can apply through the Division, with the program covering up to the full duration of the mortgage loan. The bill includes an appropriation for program implementation but does not affect local or state government budgets beyond the specified funding.

Maddy summarySB 250 gives patients legal ownership of their electronic health records, requiring healthcare providers to let them access and forward these records without fees. It mandates the creation of a statewide electronic health repository to store all patients' records, with most providers required to integrate their systems by 2030 (smaller practices with 20 or fewer employees get until 2030 to comply). The bill also requires entities to honor patient requests to restrict access to their health information and imposes penalties, including fines, for violations. These changes directly affect patients, healthcare providers, insurers, and the state's health information infrastructure.

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 summarySB 297 designates October as "Menopause Awareness Month" in Nevada each year. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation urging news media, healthcare providers, educators, and other entities to share factual information about menopause and promote access to quality health care during this life stage for Nevadans. The bill passed the legislature in May 2025 but was vetoed by the Governor on June 2, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 171 prohibits Nevada health care licensing boards from denying licenses or imposing discipline on providers for offering medically necessary gender-affirming care, and bars the state from extraditing individuals charged in other states for such care unless the act would also be illegal in Nevada. The bill also prevents state agencies from sharing information or using state resources to assist out-of-state investigations targeting providers of gender-affirming health care. It defines "gender-affirming care" as services aligning with a patient's gender identity and meeting medical necessity standards (excluding conversion therapy), and requires licensing boards to explore reciprocal licensing with other states to facilitate care for out-of-state patients. This law directly affects transgender patients, health care providers, and Nevada's state agencies in their interactions with out-of-state legal actions.

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 summaryNevada's SJR 8 is a legislative resolution urging Congress to protect specific public lands near Las Vegas, including Sunrise Mountain, Frenchman Mountain, and Rainbow Gardens Area. The resolution requests federal designation (such as national monument or conservation area) for these lands, which contain significant cultural sites (like Gypsum Cave), geological features (the Great Unconformity), rare plants, and recreational value. It does not create new laws but formally asks Congress to consider protective measures. Nevada's legislature passed the resolution unanimously (39-3) and will forward it to Congress for review. This is a procedural request, not a binding mandate.

Maddy summarySB 210 increases fees that Nevada sheriffs and constables charge for court-related services. Key changes include raising summons fees from $17 to $26, mileage fees from $2 to $3 per mile, and eviction-related fees (like summary evictions) from $21 to $26. The bill also sets a new maximum of $30 per mile for travel costs when papers cannot be served despite reasonable effort. These changes directly affect individuals using court services, such as defendants in lawsuits, tenants facing eviction, and people requiring subpoenas, by increasing their costs for these official processes.

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.