Senate Bill 262, presented May 28, seeks to expand graduate medical education (GME) capacity across Nevada by creating approval processes, encouraging use of federal Medicaid participation to support residents and fellows, and authorizing grants prioritized by need. The committee heard unified support from Nevada’s medical schools, hospital systems and health‑care employers and advanced the bill in work session.

Sen. Julie Pizzina described amendments that require institutions approved by the Nevada Hospital Association and DHHS to follow application and reporting procedures for program changes and to ensure reductions in residency slots require approval. UNR and UNLV deans testified about physician shortages: Dr. Philip Clark (UNR) and Dr. Kate Martin (UNLV) said Nevada ranks below the national average for active physicians per capita and that residents who complete both medical school and GME in Nevada are more likely to remain in-state. Dr. Martin said, “Students who complete both medical school and graduate medical education in Nevada have an 80% statistical chance of staying in the state.”

Support came from hospitals, rural health partners, hospital systems, medical students and the Nevada Hospital Association. Testimony emphasized that expanding residency and fellowship slots — including specialties not currently available in Nevada — would improve access to specialty care and increase retention of home‑grown physicians. Sponsors noted an appropriation request (about $9 million) and that OB‑GYN residency start-up costs can be approximately $2.8 million per year. No opposition was presented during the hearing; the committee advanced SB262 in work session.

Ending: The committee moved SB262 forward and directed continued work on implementation details and grant award criteria.