Senate Bill 280 would appropriate $1,341,000 to reestablish a state‑based, accredited cleft and craniofacial team at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine in partnership with the UNLV School of Medicine and Roseman University, supporters told the Assembly Ways and Means Committee on May 21.

Senator Rochelle Winn, sponsor, said the team previously existed in Nevada but was disbanded in 2020 during the COVID‑19 pandemic and that without an accredited clinic families and children in Nevada face added travel and fragmented care.

"Without one central clinic that provides comprehensive care, it is very difficult for families to navigate the child's many appointments and ongoing needs," testified Dr. Fan Nguyen (spoke from the teleconference), who described multidisciplinary clinic services including surgery, orthodontics and speech therapy as essential for children with cleft lip and palate.

Sponsor Winn said the original request was roughly $2.9 million; the reworked proposal before the committee was $1,341,000. She described the appropriation as limited in scope but sufficient to reestablish accreditation and core services with the intent to expand if future funding becomes available.

UNLV, Roseman University and Cura Nevada representatives testified in support; no callers opposed. The sponsor closed without further remarks.

Why it matters: A state‑based accredited cleft and craniofacial team provides coordinated, multidisciplinary care that providers said reduces the number of surgeries and downstream developmental issues by centralizing diagnosis, treatment and follow‑up.

Discussion vs. decision: The hearing was informational and fiscal; no committee vote was recorded during this session.

Ending: The appropriation would be included in fiscal deliberations; sponsors asked legislators to consider the appropriation to restore statewide services.