Bill > SB493

This bill addresses the critical shortage of veterinarians in Hawaii by establishing the Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund, a new financial mechanism to support veterinary professionals. The bill recognizes that Hawaii currently has only 320 veterinarians and lacks a veterinary school, which creates significant barriers for individuals pursuing veterinary medicine, including high out-of-state tuition costs and substantial student loan debt. To address these challenges, the bill creates a $60 license renewal fee for veterinarians that will be deposited into the special fund, which will support two primary initiatives: a loan repayment program and a scholarship program. The loan repayment and scholarship program will provide financial assistance to veterinary students and practicing veterinarians who commit to working in shortage areas of Hawaii for a predetermined period. Recipients who fail to fulfill their service commitment will be required to repay the funds, though the board may waive this requirement under certain circumstances. The goal of these efforts is to incentivize veterinarians to practice in Hawaii, enhance the agricultural industry, close veterinary service gaps, and provide meaningful financial support to professionals in the field. The bill appropriates funds from general revenues and the special fund to support these programs, with implementation set to begin on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=493&year=2026