AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 15-10-38.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to eligibility for the skilled workforce student loan repayment program; and to amend and reenact subsection 4 of section 15-10-38.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to eligibility for the skilled workforce scholarship program.
Summary
SB 2221 expands eligibility for two state higher-education workforce incentive programs: the skilled workforce student loan repayment program and the skilled workforce scholarship program. The bill adds a specific pathway for individuals pursuing or holding a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) who teach four clinical credits per year and live and work in North Dakota in an occupation requiring that degree.
For the scholarship program, the bill amends the definition of qualifying educational programs to expressly include an MSN program under the same teaching requirement, even if the program would not otherwise fit the general rules for short-term or associate-level credentials. For the loan repayment program, it creates a new eligibility provision that treats the MSN/clinical-teaching arrangement as satisfying the existing requirement referenced in the statute. The practical effect is to make nursing faculty and advanced nursing professionals more likely to qualify for state financial support tied to workforce development.
Impact
The bill amends North Dakota Century Code sections 15-10-38.1 and 15-10-38.2, changing eligibility rules for state-administered student loan repayment and scholarship programs. It specifically broadens access for MSN students and graduates who teach clinical credits and work in-state, which may increase participation in nursing education and help address workforce shortages in nursing and other high-demand health occupations. The affected parties are nursing students, nurse educators, higher education institutions, and the state board of higher education and workforce development council, which must incorporate the new eligibility category into program administration.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate unanimously on second reading and the House by an overwhelming margin, with only one dissenting vote in the House. The vote pattern suggests the legislature generally viewed the measure as a targeted workforce and education policy change rather than a controversial expansion of benefits.
Contention
There is no committee transcript available and no recorded floor debate in the provided materials, so specific objections are not documented. The only notable point of potential contention is the bill’s narrow carve-out for Master of Science in Nursing programs, which could be seen as preferential treatment for one professional field within the broader skilled workforce incentive structure. However, the near-unanimous votes indicate that any such concern was minimal or not persuasive to most legislators.