# Colorado HB26-1198: Access to Veterinary Care Colorado HB26-1198, Access to Veterinary Care, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Karen McCormick (Democratic), Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Rod Pelton (Republican) and 1 others; status signed, last action 2026-04-29 (Governor Signed) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1198-2026A - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Colorado HB26-1198 - State: Colorado - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Access to Veterinary Care - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-11 - Last action: 2026-04-29, Governor Signed - Sponsors: Karen McCormick (Democratic), Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Rod Pelton (Republican), Ty Winter (Republican) - Cosponsors: 35 - Subjects: Professions & Occupations - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 6 (241 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Free Donated Prescription Drugs for Animals: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, owners can donate unused animal prescription drugs to licensed veterinarians or qualifying shelters. A veterinarian can reissue an accepted drug free after finding the owner eligible and the drug suitable. Drugs must have been dispensed by a licensed veterinarian or pharm… - More In-Office Drug Access for Animals: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, veterinarians can provide needed compounded drugs from office stock when a registered pharmacy cannot supply them in time. The law removes the former emergency-only rule and five-day limit. The amount cannot exceed what the animal's condition requires, and a valid veterin… - Broader Training Standard for Veterinary Technicians: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Colorado's board-approved veterinary technician credentialing organization must require completion of an accredited veterinary technician program. The law removes the requirement that accreditation come specifically from the American Veterinary Medical Association. This o… - Streamlined Colorado Licensing for Qualifying Veterinarians: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Colorado's veterinary board must update its license-by-endorsement process and adopt rules to speed it up. This pathway applies to applicants who meet the state's occupational credential portability requirements. The rules can remove duplicate requirements or simplify the… - Broader Drug Authority for Animal Shelters: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, registered animal shelters and animal control agencies can buy, possess, and administer certain animal-handling drugs. These include drugs for chemical capture and for sedation or immobilization immediately before euthanasia. The authority is no longer limited to pet anim… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Karen McCormick (Democratic), House - Sponsor: Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Senate - Sponsor: Rod Pelton (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Ty Winter (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Andrew Boesenecker (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ava Flanell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Alex Valdez (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Bob Marshall (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Carlos Barron (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Chad Clifford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Chris Richardson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Dusty Johnson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Eliza Hamrick (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer Bacon (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jarvis Caldwell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Julie McCluskie (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kyle Brown (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kenny Nguyen (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Katie Stewart (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lori Goldstein (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lesley Smith (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Monica Duran (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mandy Lindsay (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Meghan Lukens (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ryan Gonzalez (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Rebecca Keltie (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ron Weinberg (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Sheila Lieder (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Steven Woodrow (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Barbara Kirkmeyer (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Cathy Kipp (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: James Coleman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Janice Marchman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lisa Frizell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Larry Liston (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Marc Catlin (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Mike Weissman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Tony Exum (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-02 | House | Senate amendments: Repass | pass | 63 | 0 | | | 2026-04-02 | House | Senate amendments: Concur | pass | 61 | 2 | | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | Third reading: Bill | pass | 35 | 0 | | | 2026-03-25 | Senate | Refer House Bill 26-1198, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | pass | 7 | 0 | | | 2026-03-09 | House | Third reading: Bill | pass | 62 | 0 | | | 2026-03-02 | House | Refer House Bill 26-1198, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | pass | 13 | 0 | | ## Actions (15) - 2026-04-29: Governor Signed (House) - 2026-04-23: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2026-04-22: Signed by the Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-04-22: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-02: House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass (House) - 2026-04-01: House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily (House) - 2026-03-31: Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources (Senate) - 2026-03-09: House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (House) - 2026-03-06: House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee (House) - 2026-03-05: House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments (House) - 2026-03-02: House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole (House) - 2026-02-11: Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources (House) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112997/download) - Final Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114924/download) - House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Preamend: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112838/download) - Introduced: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/111805/download) - Reengrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113038/download) - Rerevised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113888/download) - Revised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113850/download) - Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Preamend: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113739/download) - Signed Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115432/download) ## Related bills - HB26-1298: Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements (signed) - HB26-1250: Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture (signed) - HB26-1414: Medical Record Requests (signed) - HB26-1430: Transportation Funding Adjustments (signed) - SB26-155: Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise (signed) - HB26-1429: County Administration Public Assistance Programs (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112997/download) - [Final Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114924/download) - [House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Preamend (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112838/download) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/111805/download) - [Reengrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113038/download) - [Rerevised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113888/download) - [Revised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113850/download) - [Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Preamend (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113739/download) - [Signed Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115432/download) ## Related - [HB26-1298: Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1298-2026A) - [HB26-1250: Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1250-2026A) - [HB26-1414: Medical Record Requests](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1414-2026A) - [HB26-1430: Transportation Funding Adjustments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1430-2026A) - [SB26-155: Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB26-155-2026A) - [HB26-1429: County Administration Public Assistance Programs](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1429-2026A) - [Colorado bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado/bills) - [Colorado state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1198-2026A (as of 2026-10-19).