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AB 269

Revises provisions relating to education. (BDR 18-618)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Reuben D'Silva

Expands Nevada's loan-repayment program to cover more health and public health providers, adds public health staff, and prioritizes underserved rural/low-income areas.

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 243.
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Bill Summary · AB 269

AB 269 — Summary (Chapter 243, 2025)

Status: Approved by Governor (Chapter 243). Enrolled 5/29/2025; approved 6/03/2025.
Introduced: 1/17/2025. Sponsor: Asm. Reuben D’Silva. Fiscal effect: Yes (state); no local government effect.

Main purpose

AB 269 revises and expands Nevada’s Student Loan Repayment for Providers of Health Care in Underserved Communities Program. It (1) broadens which health professionals are eligible for student loan repayment, (2) adds “public health professionals” to the Program (and renames the Program accordingly), and (3) updates program priorities, administration and eligibility criteria to improve recruitment and retention of health and public‑health workers in underserved areas.

Key provisions / changes

  • Expands the statutory definition of “provider of health care” to include (among others):
    • Speech‑language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists
    • Marriage and family therapists
    • Clinical alcohol and drug counselors / alcohol & drug counselors
    • Assistant behavior analysts and behavior analysts
    • Certified problem gambling counselors
    • Other previously listed professions remain included.
  • Adds “public health professionals” to the Program. Defined to include:
    • State Chief Medical Officer, county and district health officers; and
    • Positions in the Division of Public and Behavioral Health or local boards of health designated by regulation due to recruitment/retention difficulties.
  • Renames the Program and its account to reflect inclusion of public health professionals.
  • Eligibility requirements:
    • Applicants must be Nevada residents, licensed/certified in good standing, and commit to at least 5 years of practice in qualifying underserved locations.
    • Qualifying locations include HUD‑qualified low‑income census tracts, high Social Vulnerability Index tracts, communities with high limited English proficiency, tribal lands, areas affected by historical discriminatory practices, and counties with population under 100,000.
    • Earlier drafts proposed adjacency eligibility for census tracts; later amendments removed or narrowed that language and added conditions (e.g., demonstrating majority of patients reside in qualifying tract).
  • Administration and priorities:
    • Program administered by the State Treasurer.
    • At least 15% of annual Program funds must be used for providers committing to practice in counties with populations under 100,000 (to the extent participants exist).
    • Prioritization for remaining funds emphasizes primary care, providers who accept Medicaid/CHIP, and other categories set by Treasurer regulation.
    • State Treasurer directed to conduct outreach and report details of the HEAL program (biennial reporting requirement added in proposed amendments).

Who is affected

  • Newly eligible and existing health and public‑health professionals (listed above) — increases potential applicants for loan repayment incentives.
  • Rural and other underserved communities stand to gain workforce capacity.
  • State Treasurer’s Office (program administration) and agencies involved in designating public‑health shortage positions.
  • The state budget (bill has an identified state fiscal impact; no local government fiscal effect).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Multiple committee amendments added provider categories (OTs, PTs, SLPs, behavior analysts) and refined eligibility criteria.
  • Some provisions in earlier versions were effective upon passage for regulatory setup, with other provisions effective Oct. 1, 2025; the bill was ultimately enrolled and chaptered (Chapter 243) after concurrence of Senate Amendment No. 695 on 5/27/2025 and governor approval on 6/03/2025.

Potential impact

  • Broadens the pipeline of reimbursed clinicians and public‑health workers serving underserved Nevada communities, likely improving access to allied health, behavioral health and public‑health services — particularly in rural and high‑need areas.
  • State fiscal resources will be required to fund expanded loan repayments; the Treasurer’s Office will set regulations and program priorities.

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

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