By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
House Bill 1131, described by a bill sponsor as a free-market solution to the state’s growing veterinary shortage, appears to be fast-tracked to the Senate.
On second reading Tuesday in the House, the bill by Democrat Rep. Andrew Boesenecker and Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson passed on an overwhelming voice vote. It was introduced Jan. 28.
“We have seen a real need for veterinarians across the state, for both small [animals] and livestock,” Johnson said. “[HB 1131] really does eliminate government overreach by removing caps for free-market students.”
The bill eliminates the cap on the number of students who may enroll in the Colorado State veterinary program and, as the bill’s fiscal note points out, removes other financial limitations on the veterinary medicine program.
Colorado State could have “increased revenues and expenditures to educate additional students who enroll” in the program, the bill’s fiscal note reads.
The online Colorado State program catalog notes about 142 students are admitted to the program annually, an identical admission total to Texas A&M’s program. Oklahoma State admits 106 students annually, an admission rate of 13.1%. Kansas State admits up to 119 students annually. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Colorado State program second among the top veterinary schools.
Although it does not appear she has sponsored the bill, Rep. Karen McCormick, a Boulder County veterinarian, supports the approach to increase veterinarians, she said, pointing out she is the only veterinarian in the Colorado House.
“This is exactly what we need to be doing,” McCormick said, in order to increase the number of veterinarians practicing in Colorado. The bill, she said, could lead the nation to solutions toward the veterinarian shortage.
Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Ty Winter recalls those across his district in Southeast Colorado seeking solutions to the shortage.
“This is a popular topic in my district,” Winter said. “We need to get veterinarians into communities where we really need them.”
The bill will need to clear approval on third reading in the House before advancing to the Colorado Senate, where it is sponsored by Democrat Sen. Kathy Kipp and Republican Sen. Byron Pelton, whose district overlaps with Johnson’s.