MN HF4140

Modifies the existing health professional education loan forgiveness program by removing the "hospital nurse" definition and creating a separate, dedicated hospital nursing educational loan forgiveness program under new Minnesota Statutes section 144.1521.

Establishes eligibility requirements for hospital nurses: must be licensed registered nurses employed by nonprofit hospitals providing direct patient care, with at least three years of prior employment in that role.

Requires selected hospital nurses to commit to a minimum two-year service obligation continuing as hospital nurses and provides annual loan forgiveness disbursements equivalent to 15 percent of average educational debt, up to a maximum of four years.

Appropriates $30,317,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2025 for the hospital nursing loan forgiveness program, with ongoing base appropriations of $5,317,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, available until 2033.

Allows for penalty waivers if participants cannot fulfill service commitments due to emergency circumstances, life changes outside their control, inability to obtain required hours due to hospital scheduling decisions, or other commissioner-determined circumstances.