Proposal would help rural governments and educators and fund responder drones

The proposal would set up an Office of Rural Prosperity and seven regional help centers. The office and centers would support rural local governments, with the centers serving governments in designated rural areas of opportunity. The Governor would appoint the office director, subject to Senate confirmation. The office would have to establish the centers by October 1, 2026.

The proposal would offer student loan repayment assistance to eligible educators. Teachers and school administrators must live and work full time in the same designated rural area of opportunity. School employment may be in a private school or public school district. Educators must have earned a qualifying degree or certificate before moving and have an active student loan for it. Before each payment, the Department of Education must verify continued qualifying employment, an effective or highly effective rating, and that the participant has not been placed on probation or had a certificate suspended or revoked. Residency must begin on or after July 1, 2026. Payments would be made annually, up to $3,000 per year, for five years.

The proposal would let first responder agencies apply for grants to buy new drones. Law enforcement, fire service, ambulance, and other first responder agencies could apply for drones that meet the bill’s requirements. The program depends on an appropriation, and grants would be awarded in the order applications arrive. Recipients must provide at least half the cost in local funds, unless the department waives the match for an agency serving only a fiscally constrained county. Grants are capped at $250,000 per agency and $50,000 per drone. This grant provision would expire July 1, 2027.