Tennessee committee advances bill allowing certified chiropractors to treat animals after heated debate

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday approved House Bill 164, a measure that establishes education and certification standards for chiropractors who provide chiropractic care to animals, after members debated animal welfare and professional scope concerns.

The bill, sponsored by Speaker Gino Marsha (Speaker Marsh), passed in committee 10-6 and advances to the House Health Committee. It requires chiropractors and veterinarians who perform animal chiropractic work to meet defined educational standards and certification requirements and creates a regulatory framework governing that practice.

Supporters said the bill formalizes an existing practice and creates minimum competency standards. Representative Gino Marsh, the bill sponsor, told the committee the legislation “establish[es] educational standards, which must be met by chiropractic physicians and veterinarians who perform animal chiropractic work.” Marsh said animal chiropractic “does not include performing surgery, dispensing or administering medications, or performing traditional veterinarian care,” and argued owners should be able to choose whether to take an animal to a chiropractor or a veterinarian.

Opponents — principally veterinarians and their professional association — said the bill would allow nonveterinarians to diagnose and treat animal conditions that can mask serious disease, risking delays in necessary…