House committee considers repeal to let commissioner use exchange slots beyond one Idaho osteopathic school

House Bill 317, introduced by Rep. David Beatty, would repeal a 2019 statute that requires the commissioner of higher education to negotiate, on behalf of the Board of Regents, a contract with a specific school of osteopathic medicine to provide slots for Montana residents.

The move “was deemed important at the time to help address a shortage of primary care doctors in our state,” Beatty said. He told the committee the bill would not prevent an agreement with the Idaho school in question but would remove “an unintentional restriction on access to these other options” and allow the commissioner to “make best use of the budget provided to support our state's professional student exchange program.”

Joe Thiel, deputy commissioner with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, testified as a proponent: “Quite simply, this gives us greater flexibility to use those slots that are necessary to, fill Montana's, physician needs, at institutions in state, out of state, with greater flexibility for for where students would like to attend.”

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the new in‑state Doctor of Osteopathy program in Billings and whether the repeal would curtail any existing agreement. Beatty and Thiel said the bill preserves the commissioner’s ability to maintain an agreement with the Idaho institution while allowing the office to use other schools under the same budget.

The hearing concluded with no opponents or informational witnesses recorded and no formal committee action taken during the session.

The measure proceeds through the committee process for further consideration.