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Committee adopts substitute for animal‑shelter funding bill; panel moves to pass substitute and not pass original
Summary
The House Appropriations and Finance Committee approved a committee substitute for House Bill 113 that creates a program to distribute shelter funding; the panel recorded a do‑not‑pass on the original bill and a do‑pass on the committee substitute by voice vote following testimony about roaming dogs and shelter capacity.
The committee approved a substitute for House Bill 113 that creates a program to distribute state funding to animal shelters and related services. Committee members then moved a do‑not‑pass on the original HB 113 and a do‑pass for the House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute; both actions were recorded by voice with no opposition in the transcript.
Representative Silva explained the substitute after negotiation with committee members; Representative Brown praised the change as addressing anti‑donation concerns and supported the substitute. Kathy Elliott, a registered lobbyist for the City of Raton, testified that Raton faces packs of roaming animals and a full no‑kill shelter and urged support: “City of Raton has many, many animals that are roaming their streets…We actually have a no kill animal shelter that is 100% full.”
Representative Vincent said he was conflicted and described concerns about whether the funds could be better spent on people and about euthanasia policies in some jurisdictions; he said it influenced how he might vote. Experts and shelter representatives told the committee that many municipal shelters are under‑resourced for basic equipment and staffing and that the proposed funding would support public health, vaccination and operations. Committee members noted the substitute ties to funding in the budget and described the effort as creating a distribution program for shelter needs.
Representative Dow moved the committee substitute and the committee recorded a do‑not‑pass on original HB 113 and a do‑pass for the committee substitute; the chair announced no recorded opposition. The substitute will move forward with committee endorsement and with the committee's stated connection to budgeted funding.
