Senate committee hears wide-ranging revisions to veterinary-practice law; industry seeks amendments

The North Dakota Senate Workforce Development Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 2129, a bill to amend the state's veterinary practice law that drew supporters and opponents from across the state but produced no committee vote.

Dr. Sarah Lyons, executive secretary for the North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, told the committee the bill updates "cumbersome and outdated language" in the practice act and urged a "due pass" recommendation. Lyons said the bill adds new definitions, clarifies licensing for veterinary technicians, sets out complaint and discipline procedures and creates a framework for telemedicine tied to an existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). "The importance of in person establishment of the VCPR cannot be stressed enough," Lyons said, arguing that remote visits do not replace a hands-on examination.

The bill and testimony matter because they would change how veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians are defined and regulated in North Dakota, how and when telemedicine can be used, and how complaints and impairment evaluations are handled'all areas with immediate…