Wyoming interim committee deadlocks on veterinary technician licensure bill

Cheyenne — The Joint Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee heard extensive testimony June 10 on a draft bill (26 LSO 17) that would create a state licensing system for veterinary technicians but voted 7-7 on a motion to move the bill forward, leaving the draft without committee sponsorship.

The draft, described by Anna Johnson of the Legislative Service Office, would create a license and temporary-permit system and add a veterinary technician seat to the Board of Veterinary Medicine. Johnson told the committee the bill "provides for licensure of vet techs of the state under certain circumstances" and outlines application requirements, continuing education, fees and disciplinary processes.

Supporters — including practicing and credentialed veterinary technicians, representatives of the Wyoming Veterinary Technician Association and veterinarians — told the committee the measure would recognize trained technicians, improve clinic efficiency and help retain staff in Wyoming. Kelly Ferguson, a certified veterinary technician in Casper and treasurer of the Wyoming Veterinary Technician Association, said Wyoming is "one of very, very few states who do not have title protection for veterinary technicians." Troy Moline of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation and Dr. Tecla Webb of the Wyoming Livestock Board also testified in favor, saying recognition could improve rural veterinary capacity.

Opponents and skeptical lawmakers raised concerns about occupational licensing, cost to consumers and whether licensing would actually increase the number of technicians in rural areas. Senator Eyde, who spoke against broad occupational licensing, said such rules "create more bureaucracy" and may raise consumer costs.

The bill draft includes three pathways to licensure: (1) education (graduation from an AVMA-accredited program plus passing the national exam), (2) experience with a grandfathering pathway that requires 10,000 or 20,000 hours of supervised work and (3) reciprocity from other states. The draft contains a sunset for temporary permits and grandfathering provisions through June 30, 2029. Johnson summarized: vet techs "are only authorized to practice if they're licensed or obtain a valid temporary permit. To be licensed, a vet tech must submit an application to the Board of Veterinary Medicine, submit 1 letter of recommendation from a supervising vet, submit letters of good standing from all jurisdictions where the vet tech is licensed, complete a background check, and complete 1 of the following." (Johnson's full summary was provided to the committee.)

Technicians described practical impacts: Tayah Collins, a credentialed technician and president of the Wyoming Veterinary Technician Association, said her Riverton mixed-animal clinic has lost technicians in recent years and that title protection "would motivate those aspiring to be in veterinary medicine to achieve higher standards and recognition." Veterinarians who testified — including Dr. Caitlin Blackburn and Dr. Tiffany Haley of the Wyoming Veterinary Medical Association — said licensure is voluntary for clinics and gives employers and consumers a clear baseline of education and accountability.

After public comment from multiple industry groups, the committee took a motion to "move the bill" but the roll-call sponsorship vote ended tied, 7-7, so the motion failed and the draft was not advanced.

What the bill would do and next steps: The draft would (among other provisions) add a vet-tech position to the Board of Veterinary Medicine, authorize the board to adopt rules and fees, allow fingerprinting for background checks, and add criminal penalties for practicing without a license or temporary permit. Committee members asked proponents to gather more consumer-facing information (opinion data from owners) and to refine grandfathering language; supporters said they would follow up. With the tie vote, committee action stops unless a sponsor reintroduces or a future meeting reconsiders the draft.