Florida gets ready, Colorado refines principles, legislation moves forward
Rural Health Transformation Program Daily Brief, March 18, 2026
Florida is “Coming Soon” for vendors and applicants
Colorado holds 2nd Advisory Committee meeting and adds new RHT Director
The meeting slides showed new deep budget detail and Budget crosswalk showing proposed program consolidations.
Guiding principles for the RFA presented: keep applications simple, tie requests to RHTP goals, encourage participation in multiple initiatives, guide applicants toward fundable and implementable projects.
Courtney Roy introduced as Division Director, Rural Health Transformation Division
March 17, 2026 Minutes | Slides | Transcript | Recording
Legislation Watch
Primary RHT Legislative Actions
Connecticut SB00093: This bill sets out to adjust existing statutory language so that it aligns with the federal requirements under the Rural Health Transformation Program. Cthosp
Connecticut is the lead state agency context here — DSS will serve as the lead agency, partnering with other state agencies to implement projects organized across four core initiatives: population health outcomes, workforce, data and technology, and care transformation and stability. CT.gov
The bill received a favorable vote in the Joint Public Health Committee (30-0) and was filed with the Legislative Commissioners’ Office on March 3. It remains in the introduced stage.
Kansas HB2555: A transparency and oversight bill focused specifically on legislative access to RHTP spending. As amended, it requires certain information regarding the Rural Health Transformation Program to be submitted to the State Finance Council and provided to the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and the Legislative Budget Committee. Kansas Health Institute
The bill was driven by bipartisan concern that governors were receiving hundreds of millions in federal dollars without sufficient legislative input. The House passed HB 2555 to require the Governor to report on fund usage without violating federal spending rules and give state legislators more oversight over how funds are being spent. Georgetown University
The bill was enrolled and presented to the Governor on March 16. (Kansas Health Institute)
Mississippi HB1067: A procurement and accountability bill directly tied to Mississippi’s $206 million RHTP award. It provides that vendors, subcontractors, or other entities selected to provide goods, products, or services through RHTP funding shall be subject to a competitive bid process — while goods and services provided to subgrantees through a grant program administered by a public agency are not required to go through competitive bid. LegiScan
The bill also requires state agencies that distribute grants or funding under the program to submit quarterly reports to the Legislature. Mississippi Today
The bill passed the House 121-1 but is currently in a conference dispute with the Senate (Decline to Concur/Invite Conference). (Mississippi Today)
Oklahoma HB3066: A workforce-focused fund creation bill. It establishes the “Rural Health Transformation Revolving Fund” for the Health Care Workforce Training Commission to help increase access to healthcare workers in rural and underserved areas of Oklahoma. The commission can receive state appropriations, federal funds, grants, and donations for this purpose. The revolving fund will consist of monies received as Rural Health Transformation Program funds, federal funds for recruiting and retaining clinical workforce talent in rural areas with a commitment to serve for at least five years, and interest from fund investments. BillTrack50
The bill was introduced by Rep. Ellen Pogemiller (D-Oklahoma City) and is currently stalled — the emergency clause has been removed, leaving it in an introduced posture. (BillTrack50)
Tennessee SB2287: A maternal health bill with a specific RHTP funding direction component. The companion House bill (HB2597) makes the connection explicit: it directs the Department of Health to prioritize allocating federal rural health transformation program grant funds to birthing centers, giving first preference to those in rural counties and then to those in urban counties that serve residents from rural areas lacking birthing facilities or hospitals with maternity services. BillTrack50
Tennessee’s RHTP award is approximately $215 million for 2026. The Senate bill is currently assigned to the General Subcommittee of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. (BillTrack50)
West Virginia HB4951: A physician continuing education bill directly linked to commitments West Virginia made in its RHTP application to CMS. The bill, requested by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, requires physicians to complete continuing education in nutrition as part of their licensing requirements — incorporating two hours of nutrition-focused CME into the existing requirements (50 hours per two years for MDs, 32 hours for DOs). West Virginia Watch
The bill is part of West Virginia’s statutory commitments to CMS under the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program application. West Virginia Watch
It passed the House 58-35 and the Senate 34-0, and completed all legislative action on March 14. (West Virginia Watch)
Appropriation & Budgetary Links
Kentucky HB500: Kentucky’s biennial executive branch budget bill. Implementation of the RHTP will be guided by an interdisciplinary A3 Team (Aspire → Activate → Attain) within the Kentucky Department for Public Health, supported by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services agencies and external partners. Ky Kentucky has been awarded approximately $213 million for the first budget period (FY2026–FY2027) through the Rural Health Transformation Fund. Dean Dorton
HB500 is the vehicle through which these funds flow at the state level. The bill passed the House 81-18 and was referred to the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee on March 2. (Lane Report)