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Committee advances bill to raise average school‑nurse salary after lawmakers and nurses urge action
Summary
The committee passed House Bill 12‑42 to set a higher baseline for reported average school‑nurse salary beginning in the 2027‑28 school year; sponsor and nursing advocates said the measure pairs with efforts to identify Medicaid reimbursement opportunities and to keep school nurses from leaving for higher paying public‑health jobs.
House Bill 12‑42 passed the House Education Committee after testimony from school nurses, district health directors and Department of Education staff outlining pay gaps and the potential to use federal reimbursements to help districts retain nurses.
Sponsor Representative Julie Mayberry said the bill establishes an updated baseline for school‑nurse compensation that would take effect in the 2027‑28 school year, giving agencies and districts two years to pursue federal billing opportunities and budget adjustments. "If we don't pass this, then the school nurses' average salary is going to be what that average salary is now, and we're not going to put more money in there," Mayberry told the committee. "We are going to lose our nurses because they're going to see they can go work for their county health department."
Jacqueline McKeown, a director of health services and ARNA board member, presented comparisons showing substantial daily pay gaps between school nurses and state hospital nurses when annualized to the school year. She and other witnesses said school districts often lack the capacity to bill for additional Medicaid‑reimbursable nursing services and urged legislative support for both salary increases and administrative changes to capture federal funds.
Courtney Salas Ford of the Department of Education confirmed staff have received communication from DHS indicating a willingness to work with the department to explore reimbursable nursing services for Medicaid‑eligible students. Committee members pressed for clarity about the fiscal impact: the committee's fiscal materials estimated an approximate cost range of $5–$7 million to bring average school nurse pay in line with the proposed baseline. Witnesses said the statute's 2027‑28 effective date provides time for DHS and DOE to pursue Medicaid reimbursements and for legislators to address any remaining funding gaps in future sessions.
After discussion the committee adopted the bill and the committee clerk recorded passage.
