[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6643634,"mediaKeyId","2531941-d0085dd9f26d3efa8e8bf806dc1d15db","parentId",2531941,"title","Senate committee hears bill to expand Nevada State Seal of Civics, lower GPA and test cutoff","audioSeconds",2931,"startMs",1202000,"endMs",4133000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531941-d0085dd9f26d3efa8e8bf806dc1d15db&start=1202&end=4133","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531941-d0085dd9f26d3efa8e8bf806dc1d15db/thumbnail_1202000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6643634/Nevada/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-expand-Nevada-State-Seal-of-Civics-lower-GPA-and-test-cutoff","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643634-ed7e869c83b7724ab7302c4b5b73ce88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770586495&Signature=MEdEvH3gHn1v~MRPVUBc3dneYjxLQxoj19fdRmmijniPzffxJssDzMdDxjuuE69SnWgxU37eWqGuOPk251NSRHflMbyE-I0Ex5rp1F~fQ0cUFC84XquUSJYcD8rBKAHh1syeMOO5IBHvsQneVgV-UIR8rDQP8eLKBx0t1MWL81YJF3kH33cYxoICVhPBNIbAv5rX9ZdBJOvclvZiineTAgk0Ltq19SjFEeHGm4k-BuZfrobQt1HFL8kkPHcSbkxsLha4HRACLSJEfRxjbFcnGXxb32c8ZdJs0Vkn0l7B-vCCW5oaG~~9r2MKWcnfoYqezgeKZtcQI3fhTVLGCY4EIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada State Legislature","date","2025-03-10T22:43:04.03Z","article","Senate Bill 245, presented to the Senate Committee on Education in Carson City with remote testimony from Las Vegas, would expand Nevada’s State Seal of Civics program, create a volunteer advisory council to administer it and appropriate funds to the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement to pay for seals and cords.

Senator Roberta Lang, sponsor, said SB245 \"builds upon the work this body has done to strengthen civics literacy\" and described provisions to create a council, \"develop an application process for students that are interested in receiving the State Seal,\" and to allow the Superintendent of Public Instruction to accept grants and donations to support the program. Assemblymember Nathe Anderson, a 28‑year teacher, told the committee the bill also would require the council to \"develop a rubric to identify a satisfactory score\" and to set criteria for a service‑learning project required for the seal.

The bill would change academic eligibility: it would lower the minimum grade‑point average required for the seal from 3.25 to 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and reduce the passing score on the civics exam from 90% to 80%. Christine Hull, executive director of the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, told the committee the requested appropriation would be used \"entirely for the purchase of the seals and the cords,\" and said implementation currently relies on a small staff or volunteers and that a council would create capacity to manage recognition across the state’s more than 700 schools.

Students and alumni testified in support. Abigail Negrete, a student testifying from Las Vegas, said many students are blocked from civic programs by costs and urged the committee to invest in access. Sebastian Rios, a student leader and former Nevada Youth Legislature chair, said lowering the GPA would \"open the door for a larger number of students to be eligible for the seal.\" Ainsley Hull, a student who narrowly missed the seal under existing testing rules, described testing anxiety and urged a lower cutoff so more students who demonstrate civic engagement can qualify.

Business and education groups offered support. Trevor Parrish of the Las Vegas Chamber said the advisory council would \"ensure that our civics curriculum remains relevant and effective.\" The Reno‑Sparks Chamber and the Nevada Association of School Superintendents also testified in favor.

Committee members asked about the need for a new advisory council, given a general state policy preference to reduce advisory bodies. Senator Titus asked whether the Department of Education (NDE) might absorb the work or hire staff. Lang and Hull responded that NDE lacks capacity and that a volunteer council plus a modest appropriation (Lang referenced a roughly $20,000 cost for seals and cords in discussion) would be more cost‑effective than hiring a new full‑time employee. Amanda Hughes of NDE confirmed the department is part of prior conversations and that current recordkeeping for the seal varies by district, with NDE working with Infinite Campus to create statewide tracking.

Committee members also raised makeup of the proposed council. Senator Buck asked about including a Washoe Education Association or a charter school representative; Assemblymember Anderson and Senator Lang said they were willing to further discuss council membership. Senator Cruz Crawford and others expressed support for expanding access and noted civic engagement can improve attendance and academic outcomes.

No formal vote was recorded in the hearing. Sponsors said they would work with NDE and stakeholders on technical changes to implementation, council membership and tracking before the bill moves forward.

Ending: The committee closed the public testimony portion of the SB245 hearing and moved on to the next agenda item. No committee action or vote on SB245 is recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/10/2025 - Senate Committee on Education","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 245 would expand Nevada’s State Seal of Civics by creating an advisory council, easing academic eligibility and funding the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement to pay for seals and cords; supporters said the bill would increase access while some senators pressed for clarity on council makeup and administrative capacity.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6643629,"Senate panel hears bill to waive college tuition for surviving spouses and children of first responders killed in the line of duty",2611,4108000,6719000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531941-d0085dd9f26d3efa8e8bf806dc1d15db&start=4108&end=6719","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531941-d0085dd9f26d3efa8e8bf806dc1d15db/thumbnail_4108000.jpg","/articles/6643629/Nevada/Senate-panel-hears-bill-to-waive-college-tuition-for-surviving-spouses-and-children-of-first-responders-killed-in-the-line-of-duty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643629-5752d39f42e887339f93927d1658ec40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770586495&Signature=E8D7vQFHwXEeJ3WXnCuanw0XbS8S6Baz0J3UjcfYRaVbDxEUf2tRzk3vMHIi-jNaSmAw0UyEnTn2azGMSLsm4KTqo8sMZe3TzeV3emRMbAfvWePA8vQpbLajapbLUsQ14JdWs0hQDrYow3Xq1mOLsqioY7J8tKsObmEpx2XnBq2mpyqCPdjOx75VgR5URsMPaCx9QX6ZJabEG2d0-rk2gsqCJ8XgDI-mpW5nd1Gk-D5zZZXhQJQjxpjCLUwpKTbU8Yd7uiT8Kvy2PcpVhUrv95nAoE~Ur6zi0hyRu7weUATxb6WwAb8ufW8PXe~fYdxT14z3aP6aZBzHgwC6CLgHTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 237, presented to the Senate Committee on Education in Carson City with remote testimony from Las Vegas and callers, would amend Nevada Revised Statutes to prohibit the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada from assessing tuition charges for surviving spouses and children of first responders who were killed while acting in the normal course of duty.

Julie Lynn, a Nevada Youth Legislator who opened the presentation, described the bill as \"about honoring sacrifice\" and said it would \"ensure that the spouses and children of the first responders who lose their lives in the line of duty in Nevada can attend institutions within the Nevada System of Higher Education.\" Senator Rochelle Winn, appearing in committee discussion and identified as the sponsor, and witnesses described factual examples. Lynn cited the 2022 death of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Trung Tai and said the officer’s 19‑year‑old daughter faced pursuing higher education without her father’s financial support.

The proposed change would add surviving spouses and children of first responders (as defined in NRS 193.1678) to a tuition exemption already present in state law for certain groups. Legal counsel told the committee that under the bill’s current wording the exemption would apply only to first responders \"killed while acting in the normal course of duty,\" and that off‑duty or other cases might not be covered without tailored language.

Multiple law enforcement associations and individual officers testified in support. John Abel of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association described the measure as a promise to families of officers who make the ultimate sacrifice; other unions, sheriffs’ deputies and Metro representatives expressed unanimous support. Surviving spouses and family members gave emotional testimony: Minddie Loyd, widow of an LVMPD lieutenant, and Jennifer Jones Closi, president of Southern Nevada Concerns of Police Survivors and widow of Officer Philip Closi, urged passage and described ongoing financial and emotional burdens after line‑of‑duty deaths.

Officials from the Nevada System of Higher Education and University of Nevada, Reno expressed support for the policy but raised fiscal questions. Senator Cruz Crawford said NSHE projected a fiscal impact \"about $7,000,000\" when combined with existing waivers for foster youth, National Guard and tribal waivers; NSHE and bill sponsors discussed whether the bill would cover \"tuition charges\" only or also fees, textbooks and other costs. Sponsors noted an existing, limited trust fund (NRS 396.545) with a balance cited in testimony of roughly $73,000 and said the governor’s requested appropriation to that fund this biennium was $25,000 — amounts supporters described as insufficient to cover broad tuition waivers without a statutory change.

Committee members asked whether the exemption should be retroactive or include other circumstances (for example, an officer killed off‑duty while en route home). Committee counsel recommended working with legal staff to refine language to capture the intended cases. Sponsors said they were open to amendment and to working with NSHE and other stakeholders on placement in statute (discussing possible locations in NRS) and on whether the statute should explicitly include fees as well as tuition.

Ending: After broadly supportive testimony from law enforcement unions, university representatives and surviving family members, the committee closed the hearing on SB237. Sponsors and legal counsel indicated they would work on statutory language and possible technical amendments before further action. No committee vote is recorded in the transcript.","Senate Bill 237 would exempt surviving spouses and children of first responders killed in the line of duty from tuition charges at Nevada colleges and universities; supporters including law‑enforcement groups and families urged passage while committee counsel and NSHE raised questions about scope, retroactivity and fiscal impact.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee hears bill to expand Nevada State Seal of Civics, lower GPA and test cutoff

Senate panel hears bill to waive college tuition for surviving spouses and children of first responders killed in the line of duty