Committee hears bill to make paramedic scholarship permanent after early enrollment surge; bill laid over

Vice Chair Tony Coulter presented House File 1603 to the Higher Education Committee, asking that the committee lay the bill over. The bill would make permanent the paramedic scholarship program established in the 2023 higher-education budget and funded originally with a one-time appropriation.

Buck Bacalpin of the Minnesota Ambulance Association and Dylan Ferguson, director of the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services, testified that Minnesota faces a growing paramedic shortage and that the scholarship has increased enrollment. "Just in 1 year there were nearly or more than... more than 800 applications for this scholarship, and nearly 300 students received them," Vice Chair Coulter told the committee while introducing testimony. Director Dylan Ferguson said Minnesota has 4,135 paramedics and 11,665 emergency medical technicians and described the paramedic role as disproportionately important to ambulance call response.

Ferguson summarized recent supply trends: the system produced more paramedics than it lost through 2020, but in 2021 there were 79 more expirations than new entrants. In 2023 the net loss was 85 and 2024 showed a deficit of 113. He and other witnesses described the paramedic program as intensive—many programs require 1,500–2,000 hours including clinicals—and argued that last-dollar scholarship support helps recruit people who otherwise cannot afford the training.

Witnesses also reviewed state funding foundations for EMS education. Director Ferguson cited a current recurring $361,000 appropriation for EMT education reimbursements (initial EMT course reimbursement and refresher limits) and noted about $1.3 million in funding to regional EMS systems; the 2023 paramedic scholarship was a separate $3.2 million one-time appropriation. Members asked whether the bill duplicates the 2023 appropriation or would create an ongoing base. Nonpartisan fiscal staff explained the original $3.2 million had been provided as a one-time appropriation and the committee could either split that across two fiscal years or set a recurring appropriation of $3.2 million per year.

Representative members pressed for clarity on funding levels and the use pattern: approximately 297 scholarships were awarded in the first round; the appropriation was structured so funds could be claimed in two fiscal years per student (students may claim the scholarship twice while in a program). After questions about fiscal structure and program results, Vice Chair Coulter renewed his motion and the committee laid House File 1603 over for further consideration and fiscal analysis.

Members and testifiers

Vice Chair Tony Coulter — sponsor/presenter Buck Bacalpin — Minnesota Ambulance Association (testified) Dylan Ferguson — Director, Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services (testified)

Why it matters

Paramedics provide a high proportion of pre-hospital advanced life support; witnesses argued targeted scholarship funding produces higher enrollment and a younger, more diverse paramedic workforce and helps address an ongoing deficit in credentialed paramedics.

Ending note

House File 1603 was laid over; committee staff will work to clarify appropriation language and fiscal impacts before returning it for further action.