SB1446 establishes a one-year nurse anesthetist clinical rotation grant program within the Arizona State Board of Nursing for fiscal year 2025-2026. The program is intended to expand the capacity of preceptor training at licensed health care institutions so student registered nurse anesthetists can complete required clinical rotations. The bill directs the board to create an application process and award grants to institutions to cover direct and indirect costs associated with creating or expanding training placements, with preference for rotations in obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiovascular, thoracic, and neurological care.
The bill also appropriates $3 million from the state general fund to the Board of Nursing for the program and exempts the appropriation from the normal lapse provisions, allowing the money to remain available for the intended purpose. Grant funds may be used through contracted anesthesia provider groups, authorized preceptors, or the health care institution itself, but they are meant to supplement rather than replace existing institutional training spending. The bill limits indirect costs to no more than 20 percent of each grant and requires unused funds to be returned to the board.
Impact
SB1446 would create a new state grant program and a direct general fund appropriation for nurse anesthetist training capacity, affecting the Arizona State Board of Nursing and licensed health care institutions that host clinical rotations. It would not broadly amend licensure or scope-of-practice laws, but it would add a new statutory program governing how state funds are distributed for clinical education and would temporarily increase state spending by $3 million in FY 2025-2026. The bill also establishes criteria for grant awards, including geographic distribution, expected student training and retention, and cost-effectiveness, which could influence where training opportunities expand across the state.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally strong support for the bill. It passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously, and the Senate Third Reading with a substantial majority, and it also advanced through House Appropriations with a favorable vote. The pattern indicates broad bipartisan interest in expanding nurse anesthetist training capacity and addressing workforce needs in health care.
Contention
There is little evidence of major opposition in the available record, but the bill’s structure suggests the main policy questions are how the $3 million will be allocated and which institutions or regions will benefit. The preference for certain specialties, the requirement that grants supplement rather than supplant existing spending, and the cap on indirect costs may be points of scrutiny for applicants and budget watchers. More generally, any debate would likely center on whether a targeted grant program is the best use of general fund dollars to address anesthesia workforce shortages and clinical placement bottlenecks.