Bill
HB 2174
Creates Rural Kansas attorney training and loan programs to recruit lawyers and forgive student debt, boosting access to legal services in rural counties.
Status & next steps
- Introduced: January 28, 2025.
- Committee: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
- Hearing: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 3:30 PM, Room 112‑N.
Purpose
- To encourage and incentivize licensed attorneys and law students (at Washburn University School of Law and the University of Kansas School of Law) to practice in rural Kansas by providing loans, loan forgiveness, and loan‑repayment assistance.
Key provisions
- Programs created
- Law Student Training and Loan Program for Rural Kansas (administered by an advisory committee in coordination with Washburn and KU).
- Attorney Training and Loan Repayment Program for Rural Kansas (administered by the Office of Judicial Administration (OJA) in coordination with the advisory committee).
- Advisory committee
- Seven members appointed by the Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice: 3 Kansas‑licensed attorneys who reside in rural communities; 2 non‑attorney rural residents; 1 Washburn law school representative; 1 KU law school representative.
- Authority to adopt program rules, prioritize aid if funds are insufficient, and meet as needed. OJA provides staff support.
- Law student loans
- Each law school may enter program agreements with eligible students (preference to Kansas residents).
- Loans up to $30,000 per year for up to 3 years for tuition, books, supplies, and related school expenses.
- Loans forgiven if student satisfies program obligations (complete degree, required training/classes, externship/mentoring with approved rural attorney, and begin full‑time rural practice within 90 days of bar admission or post‑degree training).
- Service commitment: at least 12 continuous months of rural practice for each year a loan was received; failure to meet obligation triggers repayment to the law school (amount loaned less prorated credit for qualifying practice), plus interest at prime + 2% compounded annually.
- Obligation may be postponed for temporary medical disability, FMLA‑covered leave, or other agreed periods.
- Deans must submit an annual report to the Legislature on the student program.
- Attorney loan‑repayment assistance
- Up to $20,000 per attorney per year for up to 5 years (maximum $100,000 total) subject to legislative appropriations and program rules.
- OJA must report annually to the Legislature on the attorney program.
- Fund
- Establishes the Attorney Training Program for Rural Kansas Fund within the Judicial Branch to hold program appropriations.
Definitions
- “Rural” = any Kansas county other than Douglas, Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte.
Fiscal impact (from Division of the Budget fiscal note)
- One‑time and ongoing OJA administrative costs: $187,620 in FY2026 (includes 1.0 FTE at $104,120, $50,000 for marketing/printing, $25,000 outreach, $8,500 travel).
- Estimated program expenditures:
- Attorney assistance: 20 attorneys/year beginning FY2026 at $20,000 each = $400,000/year.
- Law student loans (subject to ramp-up): FY2027 — 10 students ($300,000); FY2028 — 20 students ($600,000); FY2029 — 30 students ($900,000).
- Total estimated increased expenditures: $587,620 (FY2026); $887,620 (FY2027); $1,187,620 (FY2028); $1,487,620 (FY2029).
- Board of Regents: minimal fiscal effect; possible tuition revenue increase if enrollment rises.
Who is affected
- Primary: law students at Washburn and KU who enroll under program agreements, rural Kansas attorneys who seek repayment assistance, rural communities that may gain legal services.
- Secondary: Office of Judicial Administration (administration duties and reporting), law school administrations (program agreements, mentoring/externships), state budget/fund appropriations.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Pros: Could increase availability of legal services in rural counties; create recruitment and retention incentives for rural practice; support law students from Kansas.
- Cons/costs: Significant and growing annual fiscal commitment if fully funded; service obligations and repayment provisions may affect participants’ mobility; program details (priority criteria, enforcement) will be shaped by advisory committee rules.
For more detail
- See the Division of the Budget fiscal note (dated February 13, 2025) for line‑item fiscal estimates and the full bill text for program obligations, definitions, and statutory language.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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