This bill amends the existing Rural Health Care Practitioner Tax Credit by changing its name and expanding its eligibility criteria. The credit will now include health care practitioners providing services in both rural and urban health care underserved areas. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum credit amount for practitioners in rural areas and reduces the number of practice hours required for emergency medical physicians to qualify for the credit. The new credit amounts are structured based on the number of hours worked in either a rural or urban underserved area, with specific amounts designated for different categories of health care practitioners.

Key changes include the removal of the term "rural" from the credit's name and the introduction of new credit amounts, such as $10,000 for practitioners working 1,584 hours in a rural area or 1,584 hours in an urban area. The bill also specifies that emergency medical physicians can qualify with fewer hours in either area. Furthermore, the bill outlines the application process for practitioners to claim the credit and mandates that the credit be included in the tax expenditure budget. The provisions of this act will take effect for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 7-2-18.22