The proposed bill establishes a Nursing Student Loan Reimbursement Program, to be administered by the Office of Higher Education (OHE) starting July 1, 2025. This program aims to provide financial assistance to licensed registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who are Connecticut residents with student loans. Eligible participants can receive up to $5,000 annually to assist with their loan payments, provided they complete at least 50 hours of unpaid volunteer work each year for a nonprofit organization or municipal government in designated distressed areas or health professional shortage areas. The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants must submit annual reports detailing their volunteer hours and loan payment status.

Additionally, the bill mandates the OHE to post application forms on its website by January 1, 2026, and to provide annual reports to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement and Appropriations committees starting January 1, 2027, regarding the program's operation and effectiveness. The OHE may allocate up to 2.5% of the appropriated funds for administrative and recruitment activities. Notably, the bill does not impose a cap on the number of years participants can receive funding, which may lead to significant costs given the number of nurses in the state. There are no deletions from current law, but the bill introduces new provisions aimed at enhancing support for distressed municipalities, aligning with broader legislative efforts to establish loan repayment programs for healthcare providers in Connecticut.