SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2248
As Amended by House Committee on Higher
Education Budget
Brief*
HB 2248, as amended, would create the Kansas
Nursing Initiative Grant Program (Program) to provide need-
based or competitive grants to support postsecondary
educational institutions with costs associated with nursing
programs.
The bill would provide that the Program is administered
by the State Board of Regents (Board of Regents) and that
any postsecondary educational institution with an accredited
nursing may be eligible to submit an application.
[Note: The Kansas Nursing Initiative is currently
authorized through a budget proviso, and, in HB 2007 $3.8
million state general fund (SGF) was appropriated for FY
2026.]
Definitions
The bill would define a “postsecondary educational
institution” as a postsecondary institution with a physical
presence in Kansas that offers a course of instruction in
nursing that is nationally accredited and approved by the
Board of Nursing.
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ Matching Grants
The bill would require the Board of Regents to require a
funding match of non-state moneys on a dollar-for-dollar
basis in order for an institution to be eligible to receive
funding under the Program.
The bill would allow for grant funding to be used for, but
not limited to, the following:
●Supplies and equipment needed for courses within
the nursing program;
●Salaries for instructors including adjunct clinical
instructors;
●Funding for additional faculty;
●Professional development for instructors;
●Student support services including NCLEX Test
Prep and other tutoring or test prep services; and
●Student support that may impact the students’
ability to complete the program including but not
limited to child care.
Program Administration
The bill would require the Board of Regents to establish
criteria for reviewing applications for grants and, within the
limitations of appropriations, determine the amount and
number of grants, and be responsible for payment of grants
to institutions
Report
The bill would require each institution that is awarded a
grant to submit a report of statistical and financial information
to the Board of Regents upon request.
2- 2248 Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Health and Human Services at the request of Representative
Turner on behalf of the Kansas Hospital Association.
House Committee on Higher Education Budget
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by representatives from the Kansas Hospital
Association and Board of Regents. The former provided
history of the current nursing initiative, spoke about the
nursing shortage across the state, and stated that this bill
would help modernize existing state programs, assist in
retaining nurse educators, and provide access to equipment
to help students be prepared to work in the field. The latter
gave an overview of how this budget item initiative has been
funded by the Legislature and provided a comparison list
between what the bill would do and how the current program
is administered.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of Advent Health South Overland Park,
Kansas Independent College Association, and Leading Age
Kansas.
No other testimony was provided.
On February 14, 2025, the House Committee amended
the bill to:
●Change the definition of “postsecondary
educational institution” to include an institution with
a physical presence in Kansas that offers a course
of instruction in nursing that is both nationally
accredited and approved by the Board of Nursing;
●Remove eligibility requirements for institutions;
3- 2248 ●Require a dollar-for-dollar match from the
institution eligible to receive the grant; and
●Expand the allowable uses of grant funding.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Board of Regents
indicates the bill would increase the funding available for non-
consumable lab supplies and equipment from $30,000 to
$100,000. The Board of Regents estimates additional State
General Fund expenditures of $2,730,000 in FY 2026 and FY
2027 for the increased limit on lab supplies and equipment
($70,000 additional funding x 39 qualifying institutions). The
Board states without additional funding, the grants awarded
would be either less than the new $100,000 maximum or
fewer institutions would receive grants. Any fiscal effect
associated with enactment of the bill is not reflected in the
The FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.
Kansas Board of Regents; nursing; postsecondary education; nursing program
4- 2248