The bill addresses the critical shortage of large animal veterinarians in Washington State, which poses risks to animal welfare, disease prevention, and public health. It highlights several contributing factors to this shortage, including economic pressures on the agricultural sector, stagnant class sizes at the state's veterinary college despite population growth, and the exodus of veterinarians to other fields due to demanding work conditions. To tackle this issue, the legislature intends to convene a work group tasked with studying and recommending strategies for the recruitment, training, and retention of large animal veterinarians.

The work group will be composed of various stakeholders, including representatives from the departments of agriculture and health, the dean of Washington State University's veterinary college, and members from organizations representing veterinarians, farmers, and marginalized communities. The group is required to submit a preliminary report by December 1, 2025, and a final report by June 30, 2026. Additionally, the bill stipulates that if specific funding for its purposes is not provided by June 30, 2025, the act will become null and void.