ATLANTA – Governor Brian Kemp recently signed House Bill 172 during a ceremony at the Georgia State Capitol. Sponsored by State Representative David Huddleston (R-Roopville), HB 172 increases the loan purchase amount for certain veterinarians in rural parts of the state, and Rep. Huddleston joined Gov. Kemp at the Capitol as his bill was signed into law.
“HB 172 is a step in the right direction toward furthering our commitment to veterinarian health professionals in rural parts of the state and ensuring that veterinarian care is accessible throughout Georgia,” said Rep. Huddleston. “I extend my gratitude to Governor Kemp and my legislative colleagues for their support and recognizing that food animal veterinarians are vital to our state as they care for the livestock that contribute to our food supply. As a fifth-generation farmer, I know firsthand how essential these medical providers are to the health of our livestock and, ultimately, our food supply.”
HB 172 increases the loan purchase amount for veterinarians practicing food animal specialties in a rural part of the state from $80,000 over four years to $90,000 over three years. The loan purchase would only apply to veterinary medicine practices that include food animal specialties and have been practicing such specialties for no more than 10 years. To be eligible, they must also be in a board approved rural county in Georgia with a population of 50,000 or less.
The full text of HB 172 may be found here.
Representative David Huddleston represents the citizens of District 72, which includes Heard County, as well as portions of Carroll and Troup counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as Secretary of the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Interstate Cooperation and Natural Resources & Environment committees, as well as the Special Committee on Resource Management.
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