HB 5418 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE KIRKLYN M. KERR PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT.

HB 5418 establishes the Kirklyn M. Kerr Program at the University of Connecticut to support in-state veterinary students. It provides grants covering the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition costs for up to ten veterinary students per cohort, funded for four years. Recipients must practice as licensed veterinarians in Connecticut for five years after graduation to have the grant forgiven (20% per year). This program directly affects UConn veterinary students who are Connecticut residents and commit to working in-state post-graduation.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action Apr 16, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference → APP Joint Favorable Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was revised to replace the term 'establish' with 'enter into' for consistency in legal drafting. Additionally, the repayment terms for the student loan grant were clarified to specify that forgiveness occurs over five years if the recipient meets residency and employment requirements, while explicitly stating that any remaining balance must be repaid if those requirements are not met.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on the Kirklyn M. Kerr program for veterinary students, but the conditions for loan forgiveness and repayment were made more explicit.

TECHNICAL

Changed the word 'establish' to 'enter into' in multiple sections to align with standard legal drafting conventions.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that the student loan grant is forgiven at 20% per year over five years only if the recipient remains a state resident and practicing veterinarian; any remaining balance becomes due if the recipient leaves the state or profession within that period.

Added a requirement for the university to award grants based on available appropriations.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference APP

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Higher Education and Employment Advancement

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors