SB 8, An Act Supporting Graduate Students In The State

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning SB 8, An Act Supporting Graduate Students In The State.  CHA supports SB 8.

Connecticut hospitals make our state stronger by delivering nationally recognized, world-class care, supporting jobs and economic growth, and serving communities across Connecticut.  Every day, hospitals improve access, affordability, and health equity — providing care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.  At the same time, hospitals invest in their workforce and local communities, even as they navigate significant financial and federal challenges.

SB 8 creates a new Supplemental Graduate Student Loan Program within the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) to support access and affordability for Connecticut graduate students who may be impacted by recent cuts to federal student loan programs.  H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted a litany of provisions that make substantial changes to existing federal graduate student loan programs, including lower annual and aggregate loan limits and the complete elimination of the Grad PLUS loan program.  As required by H.R. 1, the U.S. Department of Education has proposed a new list of “professional” programs that qualify for higher federal lending caps, which notably excludes essential graduate level degrees in healthcare and related social service professions.

Together, these federal actions threaten to place graduate education out of reach for many aspiring clinicians and caregivers, exacerbating persistent healthcare workforce shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities.  For professionals seeking advanced training, reduced borrowing limits could make programs financially unattainable, limiting entry into critical roles such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, and rehabilitation specialists, including physical, occupational, and speech therapists — the very professionals patients and families depend on every day.

Connecticut’s legislative effort to backfill gaps in federal funding for graduate student loan programs is a strong and strategic response.  It signals to residents, and to the nation, that our state is committed to sustaining advanced education pathways and bolstering the healthcare workforce pipeline.

CHA is proud to support SB 8 and the state’s efforts to make critical investments in Connecticut’s healthcare workforce so our hospitals can continue to provide the high-quality care on which our patients and communities rely.

Thank you for your consideration of our position.  For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.