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HB 1024

Veterinary student loan repayment program.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Aylesworth and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a state loan repayment program funded by a dedicated fund to pay off veterinarians’ and veterinary technicians’ student loans if they practice full time in Indiana, pri

Representative Bartlett added as coauthor
#agencies;departmentofhealth(idoh) #highereducation;financialassistance(includingstudentassistance #loans #grants #andfafsa) #stategovernment;stateandlocalfunding #veterinarians
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1024

Note: multiple states use the bill number “HB 1024” for different proposals. The summary below focuses on the Indiana version titled “Veterinary medicine student loan repayment program” (Introduced — Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly).

Summary — HB 1024 (Indiana): Veterinary Medicine Student Loan Repayment Program

Purpose

Establish a state program and dedicated fund to repay outstanding student loans for veterinarians and veterinary technicians who commit to practicing full time in Indiana — with priority to areas/practices of need — to improve recruitment and retention of veterinary professionals.

Key provisions

  • Creates the Veterinary Medicine Student Loan Repayment Program and the Veterinary Medicine Student Loan Repayment Program Fund (the Fund).
  • Designates the Indiana State Board of Animal Health to administer the program and the Fund.
  • Fund revenue sources: General Assembly appropriations, grants (including federal), gifts/donations, and investment interest. Money in the Fund does not revert to the general fund.
  • The Board must adopt program rules, set eligibility criteria, determine award amounts/duration, identify areas of need, and establish the process for multi‑year awards.
  • Awards are paid directly by the Board to the loan holder (lender/servicer).
  • Awards may continue until an eligible participant’s student loans are paid in full, subject to Board rules and fund availability.
  • Donors may direct their gifts to support specific practice types or geographic areas.

Eligibility (high-level)

  • Licensed, accredited veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician licensed/registered under Indiana statute.
  • Resident of Indiana and U.S. citizen.
  • Has outstanding student loans incurred for accredited veterinary college or veterinary technician program.
  • Must agree to practice full time in Indiana and provide “essential services” for a specified number of years as determined by the Board. In deciding what constitutes essential services, the Board will consider underserved geographic areas (e.g., rural), shortages in specific practice areas (e.g., food animal), and public health/animal health needs.

Administration, reporting & limits

  • The Board determines award size, duration, and may award multi‑year assistance.
  • The Board must transfer awards directly to loan holders.
  • Reporting: no later than July 1, 2027, and biennially thereafter, the Board must report on Fund receipts/disbursements, applications, awards, and program impacts to the Governor and General Assembly.
  • Administrative expenses may be paid from the Fund but are limited by statute to amounts deposited from appropriations, grants, and investment interest.

Who is affected

  • Eligible veterinarians and veterinary technicians with student loan debt who agree to practice in Indiana.
  • Rural and underserved communities and agricultural/food animal sectors may benefit from improved veterinary services.
  • State budget and agencies: the program requires appropriations/grants or donated funds to operate; the Board has new administrative responsibilities.

Timeline / Status

  • Effective date in the introduced text: July 1, 2026.
  • Board rulemaking, appropriation or grant funding, and program implementation must occur after enactment to begin awards.

Potential impacts

  • Expected positive workforce effects: recruitment/retention of vets and vet techs, especially in underserved regions and shortage practice areas (public/food animal health).
  • Fiscal impact depends on appropriations, grants, and donations; no specific appropriation amounts are specified in the bill text. Administrative costs limited to Fund resources.
  • Flexibility for donors to target funds may allow public-private partnerships to address localized needs.

If you want, I can: (1) extract the exact statutory language proposed, (2) draft a one‑page summary for outreach to veterinary schools and rural clinics, or (3) compare this Indiana proposal to similar programs in other states. Which would be most useful?

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

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