Board of Examiners approves 45 contracts including $10.7 million public health award as speakers thank state for new funding

The State of Nevada Board of Examiners on Aug. 7 approved 45 proposed contracts, including a $10,700,000 contract listed as contract number 20 to support the Southern Nevada Health District, and completed a slate of routine approvals ranging from vehicle purchases to salary adjustments.

Public-health officials from across Nevada used the meeting’s first public-comment period to thank state leaders for new public-health funding that appears among the contracts the board approved under agenda item 11. Emma Rodriguez, communications and legislative affairs administrator for the Southern Nevada Health District, said the award tied to contract number 20 will “support a new healthcare-associated infection prevention program and help preserve essential laboratory and epidemiology capacity as federal funding declines.”

Why it matters: local and district public-health leaders told the board those flexible state dollars — which they credit to the governor’s budget recommendation and the 2025 Legislature — are already being used to expand disease surveillance, strengthen sexually transmitted infection outreach, support youth vaping prevention and expand laboratory capacity. Those investments, speakers said, are positioned to offset declining federal support.

Board action and public comment details

- Emma Rodriguez of the Southern Nevada Health District said the funding included in contract number 20 ‘‘will continue that momentum by supporting a new healthcare associated infection prevention program and help preserve essential laboratory and epidemiology capacity as federal funding declines.’’

- Jeannie Freeman, director of Carson City Health and Human Services, listed local programs she said the new funding has supported, including youth vaping prevention, third-grade swim lessons for drowning prevention, senior transportation for medical appointments, outreach to reduce social isolation, a 988…