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Committee debates and ultimately funds rural nursing loan repayment program after split votes
Summary
The committee considered supplemental and ongoing appropriations for the rural nursing loan repayment fund (House Bill 213). After an initial motion failed in the Senate, subsequent supplemental and ongoing appropriations were approved by the joint committee.
Lawmakers debated supplemental and ongoing funding March 12 for the rural nursing loan repayment program established in House Bill 213 of 2023 after nurses reported missing year‑two payments.
Frances Lippitt and Alex Williamson from Legislative Services outlined the program's original five‑year design and the need to transfer remaining cash and appropriate funds to get year‑two awards out the door. The committee discussed three actions: transfer $2,250,000 from the general fund to the dedicated rural nursing loan repayment fund, a supplemental appropriation of $375,000 for FY2025, and an ongoing appropriation of $625,000 for subsequent years.
Representative Furness and others argued the program is statutory policy that should be funded; opponents, including Representative Tanner and Senator Zieterville, noted other state and federal programs now provide nursing incentives and questioned redundancy.
The committee recorded a split initial outcome: the motion to transfer $2,250,000 and related actions failed to achieve a Senate majority at first and was sent to the Senate for separate handling. The committee then moved and approved a one‑time supplemental appropriation of $375,000 (the House and Senate totals reported as 11 ayes, 7 nays, 2 absent and excused in one tally) and later approved an ongoing appropriation of $625,000 for FY2026 (vote totals: 12 ayes, 6 nays, 2 absent and excused). The joint body recorded final tallies consistent with those roll calls; the committee attached the usual due‑pass recommendations.
Supporters said the funding fulfills an enacted statute and remedies an administrative lapse that left eligible nurses unpaid. Opponents said the program overlaps with other scholarships and federal funding and suggested policy changes through the germane committee rather than emergency appropriations.
The committee directed staff to handle the failed items between chambers according to inter‑chamber procedures and noted the need for clearer coordination on multi‑year, dedicated funds.
