Senate committee hears hours of testimony on veterinary telemedicine bill amid access-to-care dispute

A Colorado Senate committee heard hours of testimony for and against Senate Bill 159, legislation that would allow a Colorado-licensed veterinarian to establish a veterinarian–client–patient relationship (VCPR) through a virtual or in-person exam. Sponsors said the change is intended to expand access to veterinary care; opponents said the bill risks weakening guardrails on prescribing and could harm rural large-animal practice and public health.

What the bill would do: SB159 would let a licensed Colorado veterinarian choose whether to establish a VCPR following an in-person exam or a synchronous audio–visual (virtual) exam. Sponsors and supporters said the bill preserves professional judgment, retains prohibitions on controlled-substance misuse, and follows models adopted in other states.

Proponents’ case: Veterinarians, animal-welfare groups and providers of tele-triage platforms said the state faces a severe access crisis. They cited long waits for appointments in parts of the state, mobility barriers for seniors and rural households, and shelter demand tied to untreated illness. Supporters — including the ASPCA, Humane…