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Posted 14 September 2007
View legislative update (PDF)
A handful of state legislatures are back in session in September, while bill prefiling for next year has begun in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into law several pieces of legislation of interest to veterinary medicine. One bill includes pets in domestic orders of protection while another increases the penalty for animal fighting. The governor also approved a bill clarifying that the restriction that minors cannot work in occupations that involve the handling or storage of blood, blood products, body fluids, or body tissues applies to human and not animal blood, fluids or tissues.
California SB 353 was also signed into law this month, authorizing a court to include pets in a domestic order of protection.
One of the first prefiled bills in the nation for the 2008 legislative sessions is Florida HB 101, proposing to eliminate the current prohibition on local governments to enact breed-specific regulation of dangerous dogs.
On Aug. 28, the Virginia-based Institute for Justice announced the filing of a lawsuit against the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners in protest of a new equine dental law. The lawsuit was filed in response to the board's new requirement that only government-licensed veterinarians are allowed to practice equine dentistry. The plaintiffs include a variety of equine dental practitioners and horse owners who argue that veterinary school does not require coursework in equine dentistry and thus is no substitute for the hands-on experience of an equine dental practitioner. According to a statement released by institute, the board is "using government power to shut down the thriving businesses of Texas entrepreneurs."
The AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs staff represented veterinary medicine at recent meetings of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC). Members of the AVMA State Advocacy Committee helped staff our exhibit booth at NCSL in Boston, while providing important veterinary information to attending legislators from throughout the United States.
AVMA President Dr. Gregory Hammer attended the MLC and provided valuable input which was considered by the conference in approving resolutions urging support for the passage of the federal Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion Act (PDF, 68Kb) and for Congress to preserve the horse processing industry (PDF, 68Kb) in the U.S. The MLC is a regional association of state legislatures representing eleven Midwestern states.
The link at the top of the page takes you to the latest chart of significant pending bills and regulations from around the country. Thank you for keeping the AVMA informed about developments in your state, and please contact us if we can assist you with your advocacy efforts.
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