SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 850

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 9, 2026

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 850.

This bill creates a new program, the “Public-Private Alliance to Retain Talent and Expand Regional Health Program,” within the State Department of Health.  The program would be a public-private partnership intended to recruit and retain health care professionals in the State by providing the health care professionals with student loan or tuition relief.  Under this bill, the Department of Health would contract with a qualified recruitment and retention servicer to provide student-debt or tuition relief to students who have entered into a postgraduate employment agreement with a partner hospital located within the State.

     In addition to application requirements, the bill requires that the qualified recruitment and retention servicer secure agreements of a 200 percent match from partner hospitals to secure State funds, unless the partner hospital is University Hospital.

     Lastly, the bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to effectuate the purposes of the program.

     This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.