Bill reduces preceptor-hour threshold for nursing tax credit to expand clinical training capacity, sponsor says

Delegate Robin Lewis and nursing-education and workforce representatives told the Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 6 that House Bill 496 would reduce a preceptor clinical-hour eligibility threshold in an existing tax-credit program for nursing preceptors.

Lewis said the number of required preceptor hours (100 hours per clinical rotation) creates a barrier for practicing nurses to serve as preceptors; HB 496 would lower that threshold to 90 hours, which supporters said aligns with common clinical-semester schedules and partial placements and would be more achievable for busy clinical settings.

Witnesses from the Maryland Board of Nursing and the Maryland Nurses Association emphasized that preceptors are typically unpaid volunteers who provide supervised, hands-on clinical experience essential for graduation and certification. They said lowering the hour requirement would encourage more clinicians to precept students and help expand the pipeline amid a projected shortage of nurses. Nursing officials also said the bill extends the tax credit and aligns the credit with common clinical placements.

Delegate Lewis noted a recently published fiscal note indicating a modest revenue cost (the bill carried a fiscal estimate in the committee packet) and said the bill proposes offsetting some cost through a small fee increase for certificate renewal for advanced practice nurses in order to fund the credit change.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about projected fiscal impacts and program logistics; witnesses urged a favorable report.