Sen. James Ohrenschall

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.

Maddy summarySB 338 requires ticket providers for live entertainment events to clearly show the total price (including all fees) before purchase, prohibits hiding or misrepresenting fees, and mandates full refunds within 30 days if an event is canceled. It aligns with a new federal rule by banning misleading pricing practices and ensuring upfront transparency for consumers. Violations trigger civil penalties, increased damages for affected buyers, and criminal charges for willful breaches. The law applies to all ticket sellers - both primary providers and secondary markets - and replaces older disclosure rules for resellers.

Maddy summarySB 251 changes how Nevada regulates psychological assistants, interns, and trainees by replacing "registration" with a "provisional license" for these roles. It significantly reduces fees: initial licenses now cost up to $25 (down from $250) and renewals cost $25 (down from $150). The bill also clarifies that license holders may take national exams for full psychologist licensure, and extends expiration rules for interns/trainees to 1 year (from 2 years) unless renewed. This directly affects psychology students and early-career professionals seeking to work under supervision while pursuing full licensure.

Maddy summarySB 278 revises Nevada education law to impact school districts, administrators, and teacher/licensure candidates. It prohibits school boards from requiring prospective administrators to complete preservice programs before applying for jobs, and mandates that licensing regulations allow individuals to enroll in multiple alternative licensure programs simultaneously. The bill also requires elementary schools to use school-wide or grade-level assessments - where possible - to monitor reading growth for students with reading deficiencies, rather than individualized assessments. These changes aim to streamline administrative hiring and licensure pathways while standardizing reading progress tracking.

Maddy summarySB 284 requires child welfare agencies to actively apply for federal benefits (like Social Security or VA payments) on behalf of eligible children in their care and manage those funds properly. Agencies must establish dedicated accounts for these benefits, provide financial counseling to children aged 14+, and prevent using children’s benefits to cover their own care costs. The bill mandates regular financial reporting to courts and ensures proper transfer of funds when a child leaves care or a new representative payee takes over. It directly affects children in foster care or custody, their families, and state/local child welfare agencies across Nevada.

Maddy summarySB 258 updates industrial insurance rules by limiting reductions to workers' compensation only for "economic damages" (medical costs, lost wages, and rehabilitation expenses) when an injured worker receives payment from a third party, such as another company's insurance. It removes the requirement for injured workers to notify insurers before suing third parties and changes court procedures by prohibiting juries from hearing evidence about prior compensation payments. These changes directly affect injured workers, their families, and industrial insurers by ensuring workers are "made whole" before insurers claim any portion of third-party recovery. The bill also restricts insurers' claims to only the economic damages portion of any settlement or judgment.

Maddy summarySB 279 requires law enforcement agencies to provide peace officers with detailed written notice at least 48 hours before interviewing them as witnesses in misconduct investigations. The notice must specify all alleged facts, dates/times of misconduct, and the exact rule or policy violated. It also clarifies that representatives chosen by peace officers during investigations need not belong to the same bargaining unit as the officer. This bill directly affects peace officers and law enforcement agencies conducting investigations under Nevada law.

Maddy summarySCR 2 is a Nevada legislative resolution recognizing the "Fruit Loop" area (at East Naples Drive, South Paradise Road, and South University Center Drive in Las Vegas) as a historical LGBTQ+ landmark. It formally acknowledges the area's role since the 1950s as a safe space for LGBTQ+ community gatherings, activism, and cultural events. The resolution urges the Nevada Department of Transportation to install directional signs for visitors and asks tourism agencies to include the site's significance in maps and promotional materials, without creating new legal requirements. This symbolic recognition directly honors the LGBTQ+ community's historical contributions and aims to promote awareness of the site's cultural value.

Maddy summarySB 276 requires cities, counties, water authorities, and Indian tribes in Nevada to report water quality data and incident information (like sewage spills or pollution) to the state Environmental Protection Division. It mandates that local entities notify affected neighboring governments and tribes during water incidents and prohibits contracts that block such information sharing. The bill creates a standardized reporting form and ensures all reported data becomes publicly available to relevant local entities and tribes. This directly affects local governments, water agencies, and tribal governments managing water resources across Nevada.