Bill
Bill > HB663
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Public institutions of higher education; financial assistance; Medical Education Loan-for-Service Fund and Program established; report. Establishes the Medical Education Loan-for-Service Fund and Program (the Program) for the purpose of providing loans to any person enrolled in or admitted to an eligible institution, as defined in the bill, that shall be forgiven in whole or in part upon satisfactory completion of a service agreement entered into by a recipient to engage in clinical practice in a designated service area, as defined in the bill, for the requisite period and in accordance with the requirements set forth by the bill. The bill directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council) and the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority (the Authority) to administer the Program and to enter into a memorandum of understanding establishing policies and procedures for the administration of the Program. The bill also (i) establishes requirements for the administration of the Program, including (a) requirements for eligibility to apply to and receive a loan under the Program and the prioritization of Program applications and (b) terms and conditions governing the receipt, forgiveness, and repayment of loans under the Program; (ii) directs the Council and the Authority to promulgate regulations for the administration of the Program relating to monitoring and enforcing compliance of recipients with Program requirements and terms and conditions; (iii) authorizes the Council to take certain actions relating to the enforcement of Program requirements and the collection of loans in certain circumstances; and (iv) directs the program administrator to annually collect data on the activities of the Program for the preceding fiscal year and submit to the Governor and the Chairs of the House Committees on Education, Health and Human Services, and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations a report on such data by October 1 of each year. Finally, the bill directs the Council to promulgate such regulations as are necessary for (a) the program administrator to begin collecting applications for the Program by January 1, 2027, and (b) the disbursement of loans under the Program no later than July 1, 2027.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Medical Education Loan-for-Service Program and Fund to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in eligible medical institutions in Virginia, with the goal of increasing the number of physicians practicing in underserved areas. The program, administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (Council) and the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority (Authority), offers conditionally forgivable loans to students who agree to practice medicine in designated service areas, which include health professional shortage areas, rural locations, and specific types of clinics and hospitals. Loans can be up to $50,000 per academic year, with a total cap of $200,000 over four years, and can be forgiven in whole or in part upon completion of a service agreement, which requires a certain number of years of full-time or half-time clinical practice in a designated area. The bill outlines eligibility requirements, prioritization for applicants, terms and conditions for loans, including interest rates and repayment obligations if the service agreement is not fulfilled, and grants the Council authority to enforce program requirements and collect outstanding loans. Furthermore, the program administrator is mandated to collect data annually on the program's activities and submit a report to the Governor and legislative committees, and the Council is directed to establish regulations to allow for the program to begin accepting applications by January 1, 2027, and disburse loans by July 1, 2027.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Left in Committee Appropriations (on 02/18/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB663 |
| Appropriations Amendment | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB663/text/HB663AHC1 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB663) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093419.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB663/text/HB663 |
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