[{"_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",6219659,"mediaKeyId","3621343-b32674d1656a5f32ab35670831c9e762","parentId",3621343,"title","Nevada bill standardizes student fee waivers; most become ‘last-dollar’ and Native American waiver clarified","audioSeconds",2823,"startMs",1027000,"endMs",3850000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3621343-b32674d1656a5f32ab35670831c9e762&start=1027&end=3850","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3621343-b32674d1656a5f32ab35670831c9e762/thumbnail_1027000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219659/Nevada/Nevada-bill-standardizes-student-fee-waivers-most-become-last-dollar-and-Native-American-waiver-clarified","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219659-17b319bdd3ef514e993ee9e6556d919c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770742879&Signature=jLZVnEkXSB7hPwT11IdRMHPg5IeeO~LfZM9HxwgP9lH0YEJlkNQ86yW5GUvUr~Dyi4CgaJsfZqIhWJTvQcGe0N3qY2xoyvXax9~qlzFA3eLbDtoDrPUjzcOyw6xtDgXILprR9s35fYzVyIWNh5BeUuvL0WbDe8~GjZO9MRMhJ-sEB-Ymp5uh21W-Pu-SWCyKc~512aVLxgq9y7C5NZFqDjh0pgXtc8tXoCnk8ltJ58HKGEQr-kVc2TKhiZSAGm8I2vzzDOmMJbJlMdAg9xRY~4j~WBpceDH5s23zcUzL2AkU9l2hvWWyHC9ELpixE1iEKY2Ov-f~LdNplUj3Z-~O6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada Legislature","date","2025-06-01T00:00:00Z","article","CARSON CITY — Assembly Bill 3 97, presented by Assemblymember Howard Watts, was heard and advanced by the Nevada Senate Committee on Education. The bill standardizes provisions across multiple student tuition- and fee-waiver programs, makes many waivers operate on a last-dollar basis after federal and state aid, requires FAFSA or an approved alternative, changes academic eligibility to the federal satisfactory academic progress standard, and clarifies eligibility for the Native American fee waiver.

Watts told the committee AB 3 97 grew from efforts to implement a tuition-fee waiver for homeless youth begun by the late Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson and to standardize multiple waiver programs. He explained the bill “standardizes some of the qualifications, some of the coverage, for waivers across different programs,” and that the amendment clarifies fee coverage, FAFSA requirements and academic standards.

Major technical changes explained to the committee include:

- Last‑dollar design: several waivers will be applied after federal grants (including Pell), state scholarships and other aid, so the waiver covers remaining mandatory registration and other fees. The bill’s language expressly excludes federal loans from the definition of aid that reduces the waiver amount.

- FAFSA and documentation: waivers will generally require applicants to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an NSHE-approved alternative to identify other aid sources first.

- Academic eligibility: the bill replaces discrete GPA cutoffs with the federal ‘‘satisfactory academic progress’’ framework (which includes a 2.0 GPA element plus pace/maximum time-to-completion criteria aimed at finishing within six years).

- Native American waiver: the amendment narrows and clarifies eligibility so that qualifying persons include members or descendants of Nevada-based federally recognized tribes (regardless of current residency), Nevada high-school graduates or equivalency holders, enrolled high‑school students for dual credit and former attendees of Stewart Indian School; existing recipients who would otherwise lose eligibility are held harmless for six years to complete programs.

Patricia Charlton, chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, said the changes should reduce the bill’s fiscal impact and “minimize, if not eliminate, any opportunity that a student would be required to take a loan to complete their education.” She and institutional witnesses said the statutory changes aim to streamline administration and improve student access to aid.

Other supporters who testified included tribal representatives and campus officials. Speakers emphasized sensitivity to residency and tribal membership questions (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s Will Adler noted cross‑border tribal lands) and encouraged continued institutional outreach. Doug Unger of the Nevada Faculty Alliance described the homeless‑youth provisions as life‑changing for students experiencing extended homelessness.

The bill includes staggered effective dates: sponsors said hold‑harmless provisions and the Native American waiver clarifications would take effect on “July 1 of this year,” while many other changes would take effect July 1, 2026, so institutions have time to update forms and processes and avoid disrupting already‑accepted students.

In a subsequent work session the committee moved an amendment (including adding Senator Taylor as a co-sponsor) and the motion to amend and do pass carried. The committee did not record floor opposition during the work session and the bill will proceed with the committee’s recommendation.

Why it matters: AB 3 97 seeks to unify disparate waiver rules, reduce administrative confusion, protect eligible students from out‑of‑pocket course costs and clarify tribal eligibility rules while phasing in changes to allow institutions to implement them.

Next steps: The measure was advanced by the Senate Committee on Education and will proceed to the next stage of legislative consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5/31/2025 - Senate Committee on Education, Pt. 1","oneSentenceSummary","Assembly Bill 3 97 standardizes several tuition- and fee-waiver programs, moves many waivers to a last-dollar model after federal and state aid, and clarifies Native American eligibility; sponsors say the changes remove the bill’s fiscal impact and improve student access.","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},6219663,"Nevada panel to study African American history; Juneteenth commission set as interim subcommittee",943,72000,1015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3621343-b32674d1656a5f32ab35670831c9e762&start=72&end=1015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3621343-b32674d1656a5f32ab35670831c9e762/thumbnail_72000.jpg","/articles/6219663/Nevada/Nevada-panel-to-study-African-American-history-Juneteenth-commission-set-as-interim-subcommittee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219663-d18be0d2335c96c1d5ee849524fb66ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770742879&Signature=QG9cFtZ6abqShmWfbwYPU4t7epmxyucHc3qy9sOcTonl88fZSByQj7co03bsbABpl6JYM4TZbUxiRBrL6NV9O8ddN0UxMfCK0J-~GEbzN2~Vk4NmL-JG264JwqrcuSnPiQYFCWJKsuKL-ZWYCtCSKRLamRKtGf45Zxb--r9LiVK8Df8eVusuKeghhiP-RY9AG0DDZXnZC3oYFXUTIqsLo7rKPinwaa-RUJ8mRx-wmUjr~1I~xIp1ChL9wzRcWoF-cZGtYPcongAPjm7Vz9y4ZFRuuHzU06yOv5Rsvo0BSAx0kZWGeQP1krl7uIjDwcFZLD11FVwIY~Ux-OHoO0oR~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CARSON CITY — The Nevada Senate Committee on Education on the record opened and advanced Assembly Bill 3 28, a measure that creates an interim study of issues affecting African Americans in Nevada and establishes a Juneteenth commission as a subcommittee under the joint interim committee on education.

Assemblyman Ruben De Silva, sponsor of the bill, told the committee AB 3 28 began as “a commission study, into, the idea, of, looking back into our history and taking a specific look at the, the role of slavery, of of discrimination, of Jim Crow,” and that the measure was amended to broaden the work to study “issues that affect African Americans in Nevada” and to create a Juneteenth commission.

The bill sets a short-term interim study (a subcommittee) under the interim committee on education and establishes membership and duties for a Juneteenth commission. Senator Neal explained the commission’s membership will include academic representatives from African American studies programs at the Nevada System of Higher Education (UNLV, UNR and Nevada State University), representatives of Juneteenth nonprofits and other professionals in education, museum and cultural history.

The bill directs that the subcommittee meet quarterly, terminate at the end of its interim term, and report proposals to the Legislature. The measure also authorizes an “Education Economic Fund” to receive gifts, grants and bequests; Senator Neal said there are currently no state funds for the commission and local governments that historically invest in Juneteenth events may be asked to participate in funding. In explaining the purpose, Assemblyman De Silva said, “All this bill does is now look at it. And in, and based upon that study, there'll be some policy proposals recommended. But again, there's no need to enact, no mandate to enact on those, policy proposals.”

Committee members asked staff and sponsors to clarify the difference between the standing commission originally proposed and the interim subcommittee that the amended bill creates; sponsors confirmed the Juneteenth body will be organized as a subcommittee of the interim education committee and will not exist for the full biennium. Sponsors also said an earlier fiscal note linked to NSHE was removed because the bill is now a study and studies are funded from separate interim-study allocations.

Supporters who testified included Ayesha Goins, first vice president of the NAACP, who said “we support this bill,” and Doug Unger of the Nevada Faculty Alliance/UNLV, who told the committee that the amended bill “creates a Juneteenth standing committee or commission to report an education and culture specific to African Americans” and that the study could “help uncover issues in both K‑12 and higher education and in our communities.” Unger also warned of national efforts to remove certain books from school reading lists and said AB 3 28 “should be a positive effort toward [the preservation of truth].”

The committee later moved AB 3 28 in a work session. A motion to “do pass” was made and seconded; the committee chair called for the ayes and noted recorded opposition from Senators Buck and Titus. The bill will move on from the committee as recommended.

Why it matters: the study is intended to compile historical and contemporary policy recommendations affecting Nevada’s African American residents and to provide a formal vehicle — through meetings and written reports — for community groups, educators and scholars to present proposals to the Legislature.

Next steps: AB 3 28 was advanced by the Senate Committee on Education and will proceed according to the Legislature’s calendar for committee-recommended bills.","The Senate Committee on Education heard Assembly Bill 3 28, which converts a proposed commission into an interim study on African American history and establishes a Juneteenth commission/subcommittee to report policy recommendations; the bill drew support from civil-rights and academic groups and was advanced by the committee.","actionData","errors"]

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Nevada bill standardizes student fee waivers; most become ‘last-dollar’ and Native American waiver clarified

Nevada panel to study African American history; Juneteenth commission set as interim subcommittee