Establishes the rural teacher education loan repayment program in the education department

Latest action May 5, 2026

Establishes the rural teacher education loan repayment program in the education department which provides payment for the undergraduate and graduate education loans of teachers in rural school districts who agree to teach in rural areas for at least 5 years.

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Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Higher Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Higher Education · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To establish a rural teacher education loan repayment program to provide loans to teachers who commit to teaching in an underserved rural area of the state. EXISTING LAW: No current program exists.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationMay 5, 2026Result: passed
(10) (1) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

George Borrello, Patrick M. Gallivan and 1 more on Agora

Republican3

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Peter Oberacker says this is needed

The bill addresses the critical need for teachers to serve in rural areas of the state. Historically, it has been difficult for rural school districts to attract and retain teachers in areas such as the Southern Tier and Western New York. The bill will grant the commissioner of education the authority to develop a loan repayment program for teachers who commit to working in underserved areas of the state for at least five years. It provides the commissioner flexibility in determining qualifying regions of the state.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

May 5, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 29, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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