# Hawaii SB 493: RELATING TO VETERINARIANS.

Hawaii SB 493, RELATING TO VETERINARIANS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-13 (Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 437) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB493-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 493
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO VETERINARIANS.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-02-13, Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 437) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: Board of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund, Scholarships, Loan Repayment, Appropriations, CPN, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Fee to support recruitment and retention of veterinarians in the State. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program to support qualified veterinarians committed to or currently working in veterinary medicine in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Carol Fukunaga (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-13: Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 437) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards. (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 9:35AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to CPN, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB493_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB493_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB493_.PDF)
- SB493_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB493_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB493_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB493_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB493_.PDF)
- [SB493_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB493_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB493-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).