Senate committee narrows House Bill 1490 to allow nonveterinary teeth floating at two tracks; votes to advance

The Indiana Senate Agriculture Committee on a voice and roll call vote adopted an amended version of House Bill 1490 that would allow licensed nonveterinary practitioners to perform teeth floating for racehorses at licensed racetracks in Shelbyville and Anderson.

Supporters said the change aims to address a shortage of large-animal veterinarians who provide dental care at tracks, while supporters and veterinarians sought guardrails to protect horse health. The committee removed language allowing equine chiropractic care from the bill, struck a proposed liability-insurance requirement, and restored a pathway to licensure based on five letters of recommendation from trainers; it kept alternatives allowing an out‑of‑state license or specified industry certifications as options. The committee voted to advance the bill with eight yeas and one excused vote.

The bill as amended limits permitted services to licensed horse racetracks in Indiana and maintains prohibitions in the measure against administering sedative drugs and using powered dental tools. The amendment also clarifies that floating incisor teeth is restricted and that extractions are limited to loose deciduous (baby) teeth.

Representative Kevin Baird, the House author, told the committee the bill is narrowly targeted to race tracks and emphasizes on-site care so horses need not be transported offsite for routine dental work. "We did change this to be a may provision," Baird said, explaining that the Indiana Horse Racing Commission would have authority to license qualified individuals to perform teeth floating at tracks. He warned that relying on veterinarians alone may be impractical at busy facilities: "If you do the math on that... I think that's unreasonable to think that that's going to be happening in our race tracks."

Industry groups said the shortage is pressing. Tim Glashaw, executive director of the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, told the committee Horseshoe Indianapolis (Shelbyville) has more than 1,000 horses stabled in season and only one full‑time veterinary practice that provides dental work. "We have a desperate need for dental and chiropractic care for our equine athletes at Horseshoe Indianapolis," Glashaw said. He and other backers said many racing jurisdictions allow nonveterinary dental practitioners and that trainers will not risk their valuable animals.

Veterinarians who testified opposed nonveterinarian practice of veterinary medicine but said they recognized the workforce shortage. Dr. John Scammerhorn, representing the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, said the association opposed the bill in its original form because teeth floating is practice of veterinary medicine. "The concern is the use of drugs, using powered tools," Scammerhorn said, and he questioned how to validate five trainer letters as a reliable credential. He said the association favored the amendment’s additional training or certification standards as guardrails.

Dr. Amy Narotsky, who practices at Shelbyville and Anderson and represents the Indiana Association of Equine Practitioners, said the committee should prioritize horse welfare. "My concern is that this is gonna allow for substandard, potentially harmful care for these horses," she said, and urged standards, record keeping and training requirements if nonveterinarians are to be allowed to work on racehorses.

Industry witnesses said many practitioners who would seek licensure already work in nearby states. "Most of these individuals are going to be coming from the state of Kentucky, where they've done this for many, many years," said Brian Elmore, a consultant for the Indiana HBPA.

Committee members and staff said they would continue to refine statutory language before the bill moves to the full Senate. Senator Glick, speaking during the roll call, said he disliked voting against professionals in the field but voted to keep the bill moving and asked for a corrected copy before floor consideration. The motion to advance the bill as amended passed with eight yeas and one excused vote.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 1490 (as amended) — Advanced by the Senate Agriculture Committee; vote: 8 yeas, 0 nays, 1 excused. Motion to report: moved by Senator Toms; seconded by Senator Adora. The committee adopted an amendment that (1) removes equine chiropractic language, (2) removes a proposed liability-insurance mandate, (3) restores a pathway based on five trainer letters of recommendation as an option for licensure, (4) preserves alternatives of out‑of‑state licensure or industry certifications, (5) prohibits sedatives and powered tools, (6) restricts incisor floating and limits extractions to loose deciduous teeth, and (7) limits services to licensed horse racetracks in Indiana (Shelbyville and Anderson).