Senator Brent presented SB411 to the Senate Finance Committee, proposing a physician loan‑repayment program intended to recruit and retain physicians in medically underserved areas. "This bill creates the physician loan repayment act to provide loan assistance of up to 75,000 per year for a maximum of 4 years for physicians practicing in designated professional shortage areas in our state," Senator Brent told the committee.

The nut graf: Committee members discussed program design and funding, received testimony in support from business stakeholders and a regional chamber, adopted a standard committee amendment removing a specific appropriation, and voted to advance the bill to the Senate floor with a committee recommendation to pass.

Under the bill, the Higher Education Department (HED) would administer a loan repayment program that sets award amounts based on practice location, practice characteristics and total applicant indebtedness. SB411 would create a physician‑targeted program complementary to an existing broader medical workforce loan program; the new program proposes awards up to $75,000 per year with a four‑year service commitment. Sponsor remarks and subsequent committee discussion emphasized that the program is aimed at physician recruitment to areas with designated health professional shortages; the sponsor noted many physicians graduate with large educational debt and that broader recruitment is needed to address statewide shortages.

Public testimony: Jerry Shallow, president and CEO of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber, testified in support, telling the committee the program ‘‘reimburses … and helping fill physicians that we desperately need in New Mexico’’ and urging a do‑pass recommendation.

Committee amendment and action: Senator Brent offered a standard committee amendment (0.231685.0.1) that removed a direct appropriation; the committee moved and approved that amendment. A motion to recommend the bill to the Senate floor (do pass) was made and seconded; the committee recorded a do‑pass recommendation. (Committee tally: 8 affirmative, 0 negative.)

Ending: With committee amendment adopted and a do‑pass recommendation recorded, SB411 will go to the Senate floor. The bill includes a startup appropriation noted in committee materials; staff said funding for the program was included in the current HB2 budget cycle (committee staff referenced a $10 million figure associated with related workforce repayment appropriations).