Bills › 91st General Assembly
Providing for the rural veterinarian loan repayment program, including by allowing a loan repayment recipient to exclude net income attributable to loan payments received under the program
Sponsored by Sen. Dawn Driscoll (R)
Topics:Taxes
Same legislation: SF 2491
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 26, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeApril 15, 2026
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 20, 202644–0
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 2491 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 2491 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
BACKGROUND.226 establishes a rural veterinarian loan repayment program (program) administered by the college student aid commission (commission). The purpose of the program is to provide for the repayment of a student loan (eligible loan) to an individual who is either enrolled in the final year of a college of veterinary medicine in order to receive a doctor of veterinary medicine degree or who is a licensed veterinarian who received a degree within five years of applying to participate in the program.
Read the full explanation
The individual must enter into a program agreement (agreement) with the commission in which the commission assumes the payment of the eligible loan and the loan repayment recipient (recipient) agrees to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine (practice) for four years in a rural service commitment area or a veterinary shortage area (rural area). The commission assumes eligible loan payments each year of the recipient’s eligible practice for a period of four consecutive years. An eligible loan payment amount cannot exceed $15,000 annually and cannot exceed a total of either $60,000 or the amount of the outstanding eligible loan. BILL’S PROVISIONS. Currently, the commission may grant a recipient a waiver to complete the years of practice required under the agreement in another rural area. This bill provides that the recipient may notify the commission that the loan recipient will complete the years of practice required under the agreement by securing new employment, or establishing and maintaining a new practice, in the same rural area, according to rules adopted by the commission. The bill allows the recipient to exclude net income attributable to eligible loan payments received under the program, subject to the restrictions provided in the program. The amount subject to the income exclusion cannot exceed $15,000 per tax year, and an aggregate of $60,000 for all tax years. However, in any case, the total excluded amount cannot exceed the amount of the recipient’s outstanding eligible loan.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 26, 2026. On March 24, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: March 24, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
8 for · 0 against · 0 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
91st General Assembly
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