STAND. COM. REP. NO. jf~i4~1
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR11 ,2025
RE: S.C.R. No. 192
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty—Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 192 entitled:
“SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF
HAWAII SYSTEM TO ESTABLISH A VETERINARY MEDICINE EXPANSION
WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A
DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE PROGRAM AT WINDWARD COMMUNITY
COLLEGE,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the University of
Hawaii System to establish a Veterinary Medicine Expansion Working
Group to explore the feasibility of developing a Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine program at Windward Community College.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Hawaiian Humane Society. Your Committee received
comments on this measure from University of Hawai’i System.
Your Committee finds that the State is experiencing a
critical shortage of veterinarians, especially in rural areas and
for large animal and agricultural veterinary services. The lack
of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program drives aspiring
veterinarians to seek education outside of the State, which can
increase financial burdens and reduce the likelihood that a newly
licensed veterinarian will return to the State to practice. Your
2025—3174 SCR192 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Committee believes that establishing a working group to explore
the feasibility of developing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
pathway will help address Hawaii’s veterinary workforce shortages.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Broadening the scope of the Veterinary Medicine
Expansion Working Group’s directive to the entire
University of Hawaii System, rather than to only
Windward Community College;
(2) Requesting the following to serve as members of the
Working Group:
(A) The President of the University of Hawaii, or the
President’s designee, who is further requested to
serve as the chairperson of the Working Group; and
(B) The Chancellor of University of Hawaii at Hilo, or
the Chancellor’s designee;
(3) Directing a certified copy of this measure to the
Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo;
(4) Deleting certain findings relating to the expansion of
Windward Community College’s existing Veterinary
Technology program to include a Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine pathway;
(5) Amending its title in accordance with its amended
purpose; and
(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report,
your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No.
192, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your
Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 192, H.D. 1.
2025—3174 SCR192 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. CON. REP. NO.
Page 3
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Higher Education,
JTAYARRETT,Chair
2025—3174 SCR192 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-third Legislature
~ ri4~ ‘7
Record of Votes of the Committee on Higher Education
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
S~ ~ ~ &iZ ‘~ / ~/z~
0 The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: 0 Pass, unamended (as is) D’’~ass, with amendments (HD) 0 Hold
0 Pass short form bill with RD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
HED Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. GARRETT, Andrew Takuya (C)
2. AMATO, Terez (VC)
3. EVSLIN, Luke A.
4. KAPELA, Jeanne ~
5. KILA, Darius K. ~
6. LA CHICA, Trish
—
7. OLDS, Ikaika
8. SAYAMA, Jackson D.
~
9. WOODSON, Justin H.
~
10. MURAOKA, Christopher L.
11. SOUZA, Kanani
TOTAL (11) 7 9
The recommendation is: ‘~Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerk’s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO