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Committee hears bill to allow trained laypeople to perform cattle pregnancy checks with five-year sunset
Summary
Supporters said SB 15 39 would ease veterinarian shortages by letting trained laypeople charge for pregnancy checks; veterinarians and a retired large-animal vet warned it could disrupt care and lower professional standards. The committee closed the hearing and scheduled a work session.
Co-chair Helm opened a public hearing on Senate Bill 15 39 on Feb. 23, and Senator Todd Nash (Senate District 29) and agricultural stakeholders urged the committee to approve a measure that would allow trained laypeople to perform pregnancy checks in cattle and charge for that service.
Senator Todd Nash said the bill does not replace veterinarians but “allows those lay people that are very good at practicing that to be able to pregnancy check others and charge for that service.” He told the committee the measure includes a five-year sunset to test the approach and gives the Oregon Veterinary Medical Board authority to write implementing rules.
Supporters from agricultural groups described a severe shortage of…
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