The bill establishes a rural nursing education program in Washington State aimed at addressing the shortage of skilled registered nurses in rural and underserved communities. It recognizes the barriers faced by rural nursing students, such as limited access to affordable childcare, transportation issues, and inadequate internet services. The program, created through collaboration among healthcare stakeholders, will provide distance nursing education and foster partnerships between academic institutions and rural healthcare providers. It aims to prepare prelicensure nursing students to live and work in their rural communities, initially offering associate degree programs with plans for future expansions.

The bill outlines the administration of the program, including participant selection criteria and collaboration with various healthcare and educational partners to develop tailored nursing education models. It mandates reporting requirements to track the program's demographics, participant outcomes, and overall effectiveness, with preliminary reports due by November 1, 2026, and subsequent reports every two years thereafter. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of public health and safety.