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Bill

HB 4635

$IDPH-NURSING ED SCHOLARSHIPS

104th Regular Session

HB 4635 establishes IDPH-administered scholarships for nursing education students to address Illinois workforce shortages and increase healthcare workforce participation.

Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Dan Swanson
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Bill Summary · HB 4635

Legislative bill overview

HB 4635 proposes to establish or expand scholarship programs through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) specifically for nursing education students. The bill allocates state funding to support students pursuing nursing degrees, with the goal of increasing the nursing workforce in Illinois.

Why is this important

Illinois faces a documented nursing shortage affecting hospital staffing, patient care quality, and healthcare costs. By reducing financial barriers to nursing education, scholarships can increase enrollment and graduation rates in nursing programs, helping address workforce gaps in both urban and rural healthcare settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source unclear: The bill's fiscal impact and whether it requires new appropriations or reallocates existing IDPH funds is not specified, raising questions about budget feasibility
  • Program structure undefined: Details about eligibility criteria, scholarship amounts, repayment obligations, and whether recipients must work in underserved areas remain absent from the filing
  • Competitive pressure on other health professions: Targeted nursing scholarships may redirect resources from other critical healthcare workforce shortages (respiratory therapy, radiology technicians, etc.) without addressing broader healthcare worker needs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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