Committee exempts veterinarians from gabapentin monitoring in substitute for SB 120

A first substitute to Senate Bill 120 won committee approval on Jan. 31 after sponsors said the change clarifies the bill’s intent and avoids unintended impacts on veterinary medicine.

Senator Jennifer Plumb, sponsor of SB 120, said recent placement of gabapentin on the state’s controlled-substance monitoring system created hurdles for veterinarians and animal shelters, because animals do not appear in the human prescription database. “When we're prescribing to animals…there's not a controlled substance database for my pug,” Plumb said, arguing for a narrow veterinary exemption limited to the scope of veterinary practice.

Veterinarians and shelter operators testified in favor of the exemption. Dr. Andrei Tarasov, a licensed veterinarian, told the committee gabapentin is “used very widely and it's very good, safe, non‑addictive medication” for chronic pain and anxiety in animals; he said added reporting and dispensing rules have delayed animal care. Marissa Hernandez and Christina Pulsipher, director-level staff from animal-welfare organizations Rough Haven Crisis Sheltering and the Humane Society of Utah (statement read), said the medicine is affordable, has minimal side effects and is vital in shelter settings where on-site veterinary capacity is limited.

Sponsors said the substitute is narrowly drawn and reversible if future data show problems. Senator Plumb said the state can monitor human-prescribing trends through the controlled-substance database and return to the issue if diversion appears. Senator Hinkins moved that the committee report the substitute favorably; the committee approved the bill and later placed it on the consent calendar.

Supporters urged that the exemption preserve timely treatment for animals while balancing human overdose-prevention goals. Opponents were not recorded in committee testimony for this bill.