Senate Bill 3 would establish the Silver State General Assistance Program inside the Division of Social Services to provide temporary cash, electronic benefits, vouchers or other in‑kind assistance to individuals and households affected by "extraordinary circumstances," including interruptions or suspensions of federally administered programs such as SNAP.

Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro said the bill is designed to avoid the scramble Nevada experienced during a recent federal benefits disruption and to provide a rapid, accountable state mechanism that links presumptive eligibility to existing means‑tested programs administered by the division (for example, Medicaid, TANF, LIHEAP and SNAP). "When Washington D.C. cannot deliver, Nevada must be ready to step in," Cannizzaro told the committee.

The bill authorizes transfers from the unrestricted balance of the state general fund only under strict conditions — including maintaining a minimum ending fund balance, a gubernatorial declaration of an extraordinary circumstance, a recommendation from the Director of the Governor's Finance Office, and approvals from the Board of Examiners and the Interim Finance Committee. Agency presenters emphasized the bill is not intended to create a permanent entitlement but to provide a lawful operational bridge when federal systems fail.

A conceptual amendment proposed and discussed during the hearing would delete appropriations in sections 14 and 15 (funding appropriations), leaving the program structure without immediate appropriations. The committee clarified that the program allows the administrator to contract with public or private entities to administer functions and to use existing information systems consistent with federal and state law.

Public testimony came from a wide group of advocates, unions, hospitals and business organizations, including Battle Born Progress, United Food and Commercial Workers, Dignity Health Saint Rose, AFSCME, the Retail Association of Nevada, MomsRising, NAACP/SEIU and the Asian Community Development Council. Witnesses described the recent hardship families faced during the SNAP disruption and urged the legislature to create a state backup to prevent similar consequences in the future.

During questions, committee members asked whether an administrator could exercise discretion in close‑call eligibility cases; Robert Thompson of the Division of Social Services said the bill was intentionally written to provide flexibility and that the division would work with the Interim Finance Committee and the governor's office to set criteria.

Action: In the work session the committee voted to amend and do pass SB3 (motion to delete appropriations in §§14–15), and assigned the floor statement to Senator Cannizzaro. The committee record shows approval by voice vote; no recorded opposition was noted in the transcript.

What’s next: SB3 advanced from committee in a work session. If enacted, the Division of Social Services will develop administrative procedures and any contracting and data arrangements required to implement presumptive eligibility and benefit delivery during declared extraordinary circumstances.