VETERINARY MEDICAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

HB 90 creates New Mexico's Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program to help veterinarians working in underserved rural areas. It directly affects licensed New Mexico veterinarians who provide full-time food-animal care in designated underserved counties, requiring them to serve four years in these areas to qualify. The program repays up to $80,000 of veterinary school debt over four years ($15,000 annually for years one and two, $25,000 for years three and four), excluding scholarships, personal loans, or state loan-for-service debts. Participants must sign a contract with the Higher Education Department and face penalties (up to 3x the award plus interest) for failing to meet service requirements. The bill is currently pending after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.