Committee advances proposal to fund loan‑forgiveness for veterinarians serving underserved Montana communities

House Bill 860, sponsored in the House by Vice Chair Greg, would create a program to encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved Montana communities by offering loan repayment or forgiveness for qualifying graduates who serve in designated areas. The bill draws on a Kansas model that used a state program to fund vet students who then practiced in rural counties.

Testimony and the sponsor’s materials described a proposal that would forgive or repay a portion of veterinary education costs for participants who commit to serve in underserved counties. The committee examined a fiscal note and technical drafting points; the bill’s fiscal ask for the biennium would cover several participants but committee members questioned whether the appropriation aligned with the open‑ended statutory program and sought a sunset or per‑participant cap. Committee staff and the sponsor said technical drafting changes could be prepared for appropriations and that OCHE and the Board of Regents had requested clarifications about program authority and account handling. The committee adopted a small technical amendment and approved the bill as once amended (committee tally recorded in the minutes as 15 yes). Committee members requested the sponsor work with OCHE and appropriations staff to finalize implementing language and consider a sunset or numerical cap to match the appropriation.