Senator Kolkhorst spearheaded a significant legislative move during the Texas Senate session on May 26, 2025, successfully passing House Bill 2851, aimed at addressing the looming nursing shortage in the state. The bill, which integrates nursing school applications into the Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service, is a direct response to recommendations from Governor Abbott's health care workforce task force.

Kolkhorst emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that Texas is projected to face a nursing shortage of several thousand by 2030. "This is one of our great efforts to fill those slots," she stated, highlighting the importance of increasing enrollment in nursing programs to meet future healthcare demands.

The bill also establishes an advisory board composed of representatives from various Texas nursing programs, tasked with guiding the integration of nursing schools into the consolidated application services. This collaborative approach aims to streamline the application process and encourage more students to pursue nursing careers.

With unanimous support, the Senate suspended regular order to expedite the bill's passage, moving it swiftly through the legislative process. The final vote saw 31 ayes and no nays, underscoring bipartisan agreement on the necessity of addressing the nursing workforce crisis.

As Texas grapples with healthcare workforce shortages, the passage of House Bill 2851 marks a proactive step towards ensuring a robust pipeline of qualified nursing professionals in the coming years.