Energy and Commerce Committee, Education and Workforce Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
The bill establishes the "One School, One Nurse Act of 2025" with the purpose of helping States and local educational agencies ensure every elementary and secondary school employs at least one full-time registered nurse and maintains recommended nurse-to-student ratios. Congressional findings highlight that only about half of public schools had a full-time nurse in 2015-2016, with nearly 20 percent having no nurse, particularly in high-poverty areas. School nurses are deemed critical for managing student health needs, reducing absences, and supporting overall well-being, especially for uninsured children. To address these needs, the Secretary of Education is authorized to create a competitive grant program within 12 months of enactment, offering 5-year grants to eligible entities. Applicants must submit a needs assessment demonstrating persistent shortages of school nurses, describe student health needs, and outline a comprehensive plan for using funds. This plan must detail how activities will address shortages and ensure continued employment and retention of nurses after the grant period. Grant funds can be used for various activities, including recruiting and hiring school nurses converting part-time to full-time nurse positions supporting nurse retention, such as through salary increases maintaining recommended nurse-to-student ratios . Priority for grants will be given to high-need local educational agencies or partnerships involving them, and to entities committed to increasing the share of school nurses from underrepresented populations in public health professions. Grantees are required to submit annual reports detailing progress in employing full-time nurses, maintaining ratios, and addressing student health needs, including disaggregated data on nurse demographics. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Labor, must issue regulations to define recommended nurse-to-student ratios, "underrepresented populations," and "full-time" for school nurses.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Education
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresChild healthDepartment of EducationEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmployee hiringGovernment information and archivesNursingPerformance measurementState and local government operations
One School, One Nurse Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-305| House
| Updated: 1/9/2025
The bill establishes the "One School, One Nurse Act of 2025" with the purpose of helping States and local educational agencies ensure every elementary and secondary school employs at least one full-time registered nurse and maintains recommended nurse-to-student ratios. Congressional findings highlight that only about half of public schools had a full-time nurse in 2015-2016, with nearly 20 percent having no nurse, particularly in high-poverty areas. School nurses are deemed critical for managing student health needs, reducing absences, and supporting overall well-being, especially for uninsured children. To address these needs, the Secretary of Education is authorized to create a competitive grant program within 12 months of enactment, offering 5-year grants to eligible entities. Applicants must submit a needs assessment demonstrating persistent shortages of school nurses, describe student health needs, and outline a comprehensive plan for using funds. This plan must detail how activities will address shortages and ensure continued employment and retention of nurses after the grant period. Grant funds can be used for various activities, including recruiting and hiring school nurses converting part-time to full-time nurse positions supporting nurse retention, such as through salary increases maintaining recommended nurse-to-student ratios . Priority for grants will be given to high-need local educational agencies or partnerships involving them, and to entities committed to increasing the share of school nurses from underrepresented populations in public health professions. Grantees are required to submit annual reports detailing progress in employing full-time nurses, maintaining ratios, and addressing student health needs, including disaggregated data on nurse demographics. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Labor, must issue regulations to define recommended nurse-to-student ratios, "underrepresented populations," and "full-time" for school nurses.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Energy and Commerce Committee, Education and Workforce Committee
Education
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresChild healthDepartment of EducationEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmployee hiringGovernment information and archivesNursingPerformance measurementState and local government operations