Committee considers $5 million appropriation for zoo veterinary teaching hospital; bill fails in Senate division vote

Committee members reviewed House Bill 16 35, an appropriation-only measure requesting $5,000,000 toward a veterinary teaching hospital at the Little Rock Zoo intended as a training site for the two new in-state veterinary programs. The sponsor told the committee the project would be a public–private partnership with total project cost estimated at $8 million to $10 million and that both Arkansas State University and Lyon College support the project.

"The ask is for the $5,000,000 appropriation, but this would be done through a public private partnership. The total cost would be expected to be 8 to 10,000,000, which the zoo would be willing to work to raise the rest of that," the sponsor said.

Senators questioned the long-term utility and caseload for a teaching hospital tied to a zoo. "One of the issues they had on trying to get them a hospital up there is that, there's not enough animal usage to justify the expenditure," a senator said, indicating concerns about utilization and long-term value to the state. Another senator said she would vote no based on that reasoning.

The committee took a division roll-call vote in the Senate on a motion to "do pass as amended"; the clerk announced the motion did not pass. The transcript records the chair saying, "Did not pass" after the division vote.

The sponsor emphasized that the hospital would expand internship and externship opportunities for veterinary students and support large-animal (equine) training in the state, and that the facility would include public viewing elements to boost educational outreach. The item was recorded as an appropriation-only request; committee members noted that appropriation-only items still require further vetting of costs and utilization.

Outcome: The motion to "do pass as amended" in the Senate division vote failed in committee; no appropriation authority was approved during the session.