HIGHER EDUCATION: Memorializes congress to include physical therapy as a professional degree program for purposes of borrowing limits for students seeking federal aid for postsecondary education

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tehmi Chassion and 1 co-sponsor

Louisiana asks Congress to add the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree to eligible professional programs for enhanced federal student loans to expand rural access and strengthen PT w

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.

Overview

What it is: House Concurrent Resolution 49 (HCR 49) from the 2026 Louisiana Regular Session.

Purpose: Memorializes the United States Congress to include the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree within the definition of professional degree programs eligible for enhanced federal student loan access.

Main Purpose and Intent

The resolution seeks federal action to broaden access to enhanced federal student loan programs for students pursuing the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

It frames the change as necessary to improve equitable access to advanced health professional education, with emphasis on:

Rural Louisiana communities
Development and retention of a robust physical therapy workforce
Public health infrastructure and long-term workforce sustainability

It argues that restricting federal loan access for DPT students worsens rural healthcare shortages and disparities in Louisiana.

Key Provisions (What the Resolution Requests)

A formal request to the U.S. Congress to amend federal policy to:

Include the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree within the list of professional degree programs eligible for enhanced federal student loan access.

This is a memorialization, not a directive to state agencies; it asks Congress to take the necessary actions at the federal level.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Primary beneficiaries: Aspiring and current Doctor of Physical Therapy students in Louisiana, especially those from rural areas.

Indirect beneficiaries: Louisiana communities reliant on physical therapy services and rural health care systems that would gain a stronger local PT workforce.

Broader impact: Potential improvements in access to physical therapy education could influence workforce supply, healthcare costs, and public health outcomes over time.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status: Reported favorably by committee (10-0) as of April 28, 2026.

Process: As a concurrent resolution, it is a formal Legislature expression directed to Congress rather than a state law with immediate regulatory effect.

Next steps: Transmittal to:

Presiding officers of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
Members of the Louisiana congressional delegation

Effective date: None; as a memorial, it does not create enforceable state law but signals legislative intent and policy recommendation.

Summary in Plain Language

HCR 49 asks Congress to broaden federal student loan eligibility to include the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree as a professional degree program eligible for enhanced loan access. The Louisiana Legislature argues this change would promote equitable access to advanced physical therapy education, help rural Louisiana residents, and strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce and public health capacity. The resolution has passed the Louisiana House committee with broad support and now seeks congressional action.

Bill