Committee scales back vet school funding, preserves diagnostic lab support

The House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water Committee on March 17 adopted an amendment that removes a proposed $10 million appropriation for the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine and keeps a $3.5 million appropriation for Oregon State University's veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

The amendment, described by Vice Chair Finger McDonald as a scale-down to ensure at least one program receives funding, passed on a voice vote. “We have amended this bill to preserve the funding for the laboratory at the veterinary school at OSU,” Finger McDonald said, explaining the committee’s concern that funding both the college and the lab could result in funding for neither. The committee then moved the amended bill to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means with a due-pass recommendation.

Why it matters: Committee members said the diagnostic laboratory work on chronic wasting disease and zoonotic diseases is mission-critical now, while a new or expanded veterinary teaching program faces larger, longer-term costs. Representative Sharp questioned whether the $10 million request for the vet school had been included in OSU’s own proposed budget, calling the lack of clarity “a difficulty” for the committee. Committee staff and OSU representatives said the university had not included funding for the vet school in its internal budget proposal, and OSU indicated a willingness to work with the committee on future approaches.

Supporting details: Katie Fast of Oregon State University told the panel the university proposed the legislation because the vet school has been operating at a deficit and faces high operating costs for a teaching hospital. Tuba Ascan Haller, dean of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University (speaking in support of HB 3786 earlier in the hearing), also voiced OSU’s support for the diagnostic lab funding during the meeting. Representative Evia emphasized the importance of veterinary programs in addressing a statewide veterinarian shortage.

Actions: The committee adopted the dash-1 amendment to House Bill 2167 (removing the $10 million for the Carlson College and preserving $3.5 million for the diagnostic lab). Vice Chair Finger McDonald then moved the amended bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means; the motion passed on a voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript.

What’s next: The bill as amended will go to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for budget consideration. Committee members requested follow-up information from OSU about its internal budgeting and past external funding to clarify the university’s request and ensure the committee votes with full fiscal context.