Bill would require state lactation resources and strengthen protections for breastfeeding in public, sponsors say

Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services members heard Assembly Bill 266, a measure requiring the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to publish online lactation resources and to develop a public education program about breastfeeding and how to access lactation support. Assemblymember Cecilia Gonzales presented the bill and said it grows from her personal experience and aims to increase access to counseling, lactation consultants and community supports.

What the bill would do - DHHS must provide online resources including a fact sheet about Medicaid coverage for breastfeeding counseling and supplies, a directory of community lactation services (names, addresses, phone numbers), and information on prenatal screenings and lactation consultants. - The department must develop and implement a public-health education program describing the health benefits of lactation and ways to connect individuals with lactation support. - The bill strengthens legal protections by prohibiting discrimination against individuals who are breastfeeding in places of public accommodation; the sponsor said she would remove a misdemeanor penalty provision in a conceptual amendment after stakeholder feedback.

Why supporters backed it - Health, child and reproductive-justice organizations described Nevada’s breastfeeding rates and disparities and called the measure a public-health and equity step. Jamelle Nance of the Children’s Advocacy Alliance cited state CDC data and said only about 22% of infants in Nevada are exclusively breastfed through six months; she urged support to improve infant health outcomes. - Doula, breastfeeding-coalition and maternal-health witnesses said many parents lack access to local lactation support, are sometimes encouraged toward formula in hospital settings and need clearer, centralized information. Jennifer Campbell, a certified lactation educator and doula, said placing resources on DHHS’s website would make them easier for Medicaid managed-care and fee-for-service programs to use. - Return Strong, a prison-reform organization, testified that incarcerated mothers may need access to breastfeeding education and that distributing resources via tablets or online could reach people in custody.

Concerns and stakeholder negotiations - Business groups (Las Vegas Chamber, Retail Association of Nevada) said they appreciate the sponsor’s collaboration but raised concerns about Section 5’s public-accommodation language and the earlier misdemeanor penalty; the sponsor agreed to remove the misdemeanor provision and continue conversations about codifying activities versus persons under existing NRS public-accommodation law. - No final vote was taken; the sponsor said she will work with stakeholders on technical language and amendments.

Ending: After public comment and questions, Assemblymember Gonzales closed her remarks and said she would continue working with stakeholders to refine the bill’s language before further committee action.