MontanaBill would offer veterinary school loans for rural Montana practice
Selected veterinary students could receive loans for school if they agree to practice in underserved Montana areas, with $425,000 set aside for the program.
What it does
Selected veterinary students could receive up to $100,000 in loans if they agree to practice full time for four years in an underserved Montana area.
Participants would earn forgiveness of one-quarter of their loan for each 12 months of qualifying work; forgiven amounts would not count as Montana taxable income.
The bill would provide $425,000 from the general fund for the program during the two-year period starting July 1, 2025.
Argument forLoan support could help selected students afford veterinary school and bring more full-time veterinarians to Montana communities with shortages.
Argument againstStudents could face repayment within 10 years, plus interest and collection costs, if they leave school early or do not meet their practice commitment.
More detail
The commissioner would select students for loans if they agree to practice in underserved Montana areas. Applicants must attend an accredited veterinary medicine program. An underserved area is one with a demonstrated veterinarian shortage or difficulty recruiting and keeping licensed veterinarians. Applicants must complete at least one term, be in good standing, and certify that they have not defaulted on an education loan. Montana residents receive preference. No more than four new students may be selected each year, and each participant may receive up to $100,000 total. Participants must start practice within 180 days after finishing their degree or any postdegree training.
Participants would earn loan forgiveness for qualifying practice, and forgiven amounts would be excluded from Montana taxable income. Participants earn forgiveness for full-time veterinary practice in an underserved area. They may keep earning it if the area later loses that status and they continue practicing there. A participant who does not meet the agreement generally must repay the unforgiven amount, interest, late fees, and collection costs. Interest may not exceed 8% annually. Repayment does not apply if permanent disability prevents practice or the participant dies. Temporary medical disability and agreed postponements pause the agreement requirements. Any required repayment is due within 10 years after the participant signs the program agreement.
The bill would provide general fund money for the veterinary training loan program. The appropriation is for the veterinary training loan program described in the bill. The money would go to the commissioner of higher education for the program. The appropriation covers the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 16(H) Veto OverrideLatest
- May 23(H) Veto Override Vote in Progress
- May 12(H) Vetoed by Governor Greg GianforteMajor
- May 5(H) Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- May 2(S) Signed by PresidentPassed Senate
- May 1(H) Signed by SpeakerPassed House
- Apr 28(H) Returned from Enrolling
- Apr 24(H) Sent to Enrolling
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24(S) 3rd Reading
- Apr 23(S) Motion
- Vote recorded Place on Third Reading-Galt. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Take HB 860 from Comm-Galt. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23(S) Take from Committee; Place on 2nd Reading - (S) Finance and ClaimsMinor
- Apr 18(S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Finance and ClaimsMinor
- Apr 17(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 17(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 16(S) Committee Report - (S) Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
- Apr 15(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
- Apr 11(S) Hearing - (S) Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
- Apr 11(H) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
- Apr 11(H) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- Apr 10(H) Revised Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Apr 9(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Agriculture, Livestock and IrrigationMinor
- Apr 9(S) 1st Reading
- Apr 8(H) Transmitted to Senate
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8(H) 3rd Reading
- Apr 8(H) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 8(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 7(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 4(H) Revised Fiscal Note Requested
- Vote recorded do_pass_as_amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 4(H) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
- Apr 4(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 4(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 4(H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 4(H) Revised Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Apr 2(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 1(H) Committee Report - (H) Education
- Vote recorded do_pass_as_amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1(H) Revised Fiscal Note Requested
- Apr 1(H) Fiscal Note Printed
- Apr 1(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Education
- Mar 31(H) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- Mar 29(H) Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Mar 27(H) Hearing - (H) Education
- Mar 25(H) 1st Reading
- Mar 25(H) Referred to Committee - (H) EducationMinor
- Mar 25(H) Fiscal Note Requested
- Mar 25(H) Introduced
- Mar 24(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Mar 24(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Mar 21(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Mar 21(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Mar 21(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Mar 16(LC) Draft in Edit
- Mar 16(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Feb 13(LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
- 2024
- Dec 13(LC) Draft On Hold
- Dec 13(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
EducationAgricultureTaxes & Budget