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Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania House Bill 425 Creates $10 Million Grant Program for J-1 Visa Waiver Primary Care Physicians
Last action · September 10, 2025: Laid on the table, Sept. 10, 2025Sponsors: Kristin Marcell and 5 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Pennsylvania House Bill 425 establishes a grant program within the Department of Health to assist independent employers in paying the salaries of J-1 visa waiver primary care physicians working in underserved or rural areas. The legislation appropriates $10 million from the General Fund for this purpose, with grants capped at $100,000 per year per employer for up to three years. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until December 31, 2032, or until funds are exhausted.
Independent medical practices and clinics in underserved areas can receive up to $300,000 over three years to help retain primary care doctors, while participating physicians receive tax-exempt grant funding under state personal income tax rules.
- The Conrad 30 waiver program allows J-1 visa holding medical graduates to apply for a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement if they commit to practicing in medically underserved areas. context
- The Fiscal Code governs the fiscal and financial affairs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including funds, taxes, and audits. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Employers
Independent employers hiring J-1 visa waiver physicians can apply for up to $100,000 annually in salary support and must comply with reporting and certification requirements.
Physicians
J-1 visa waiver primary care physicians working in underserved areas receive salary assistance through their employers and benefit from tax-exempt grant status.
Department of Health
The department administers the grant program, reviews applications, distributes funds, monitors compliance, and publishes annual public reports.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the physician grants?
How much funding can an employer receive?
Are the grant funds considered taxable income?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Tabled in the House.
Procedural history
6 actions- Sep 10, 2025HouseLaid on the table, Sept. 10, 2025
- Sep 10, 2025HouseCommitteeRe-reported as committed, Sept. 10, 2025
- Jun 3, 2025HouseRe-committed to RULES, June 3, 2025
- Jun 3, 2025HouseIntroducedFirst consideration, June 3, 2025
- Jun 3, 2025HouseReported as amended, June 3, 2025
- Jan 31, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to HEALTH, Jan. 31, 2025
Version history & redline
2 versions on fileLobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 1 more sponsor
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Direct State Salary Subsidies for J-1 Visa Physicians
The bill shifts state fiscal policy by directly appropriating $10 million to subsidize salaries for independent primary care practices employing J-1 visa waiver physicians.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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