On March 17, 2026, the California Veterinary Medical Association (VMA) headed a coalition of stakeholders to lobby the California Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance to apportion $5 million to fund SB 1233, a bill written and sponsored by the CVMA that was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024. SB 1233 seeks stage budget funding to create High-Quality, High-Volume Spay/Neuter (HQHVSN) certification programs at Western University and UC Davis veterinary schools. Students who receive the certification will graduate school with skill and demonstrated competence in HQHVSN, which will in turn help California’s animal shelters and veterinary practices curb pet overpopulation.

The CVMA’s lobbying effort was aided by CVMA’s UC Davis veterinary student representatives Quinn Linfield and Angel Klawiter, who spoke to the importance of the training and the collective enthusiasm and desire of the student body to obtain HQHVSN surgical skills while still in school. Stakeholder organizations that commented at the hearing in support of the funding request included the ASPCA, San Diego Humane Society, California Animal Welfare Association, Social Compassion in Legislation, Humane World for Animals, and others.

The CVMA hopes that its lobbying efforts will be reflected in the state budget, which will not be finalized until July 2026.