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Posted 17 January 2006
View legislative update (PDF)
The new year has ushered in a number of state legislative sessions and the introduction of numerous bills. All states will have regular sessions in 2006 except Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and Texas. The attached updated chart (in landscape format) contains selected, significant bills carried over from last year and those prefiled or introduced for the 2006 sessions. Bills that are no longer pending or did not carry over have been deleted from the chart.
In just the first few days of the new year, potentially significant legislation was introduced in several states. Ohio HB 458 proposes far-reaching changes in the state's veterinary practice act. In Mississippi, legislation would allow recovery for loss of companionship and affection if a pet is negligently killed. A Vermont bill calls for prohibiting ear cropping for non-therapeutic purposes, while Washington legislation would ban the sale of foie gras originated from a state that prohibits its production. Florida legislation was re-introduced to exempt from the practice act independent contractors providing any of several listed complementary and alternative treatments and therapies, if working under the supervision of a livestock, herd or avian owner.
Veterinary medicine is increasingly dealing with "non-traditional" challenges as well, such as court battles, administrative appeals and ballot initiatives. Last month, a state circuit judge in Indiana ruled that state law allows licensed chiropractors to manipulate the spines of animals. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is defending a recently filed administrative appeal of its domestic livestock regulations on the grounds that they are "inhumane." In Arizona, animal rights groups are organizing a ballot initiative to ban intensive confinement of gestating pigs and calves raised for veal.
The AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Department will continue to monitor court and referenda activities as well legislative and regulatory initiatives relevant to veterinary medicine. Please continue to share your thoughts and suggestions with us regarding state legislative and regulatory affairs. Thanks.
Adrian Hochstadt, JD, CAE
Assistant Director, State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
American Veterinary Medical Association
ahochstadt@avma.org
TEL: (847) 285-6780
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= AVMA/SAVMA Members Only
