This bill addresses the critical shortage of large animal veterinarians in Washington State, which poses risks to animal welfare, disease prevention, and public health. The legislature recognizes 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 from the field due to demanding work conditions and better pay in small animal care. To tackle this issue, the bill proposes the establishment of a work group tasked with studying and recommending strategies for the recruitment, training, and retention of large animal veterinarians.

The work group will be convened by Washington State University's division of governmental studies and services and will include representatives from various sectors, including agriculture, health, and veterinary medicine, as well as individuals from historically 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, it will become null and void. The provisions of the bill, including the establishment of the work group and its expiration date, are set to expire on July 1, 2026.