Senate agriculture committee advances bill removing five‑year reciprocity barrier for veterinarians

Senate Bill 56, which removes a five‑year experience requirement for out‑of‑state veterinarians seeking Indiana licensure, passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on Dec. 8 after brief testimony and a roll‑call vote.

Chair Sen. Jean Lisinger said the measure responds to repeated reports of veterinary shortages in Indiana, especially for large‑animal care. "Many of you know that we have heard, over and over again how we have a shortage of veterinarians in Indiana," she said as she introduced the bill and invited national and state stakeholders to testify.

Kyle Kopchak, the committee’s LSA attorney, described the bill as limited to veterinarian‑specific reciprocity language layered on top of the state’s general health‑professional reciprocity framework. "Here in Indiana, the veterinarians fall under the medical or health care professionals," Kopchak said, and SB 56 sets out the veterinarian‑specific requirements that would apply to applicants seeking reciprocity.

Lou Belcher, representing the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, told the committee SB 56 "removes the requirement from the law that an individual seeking to come into Indiana who's a licensed veterinarian or registered veterinary technician have five years' experience before coming here." He said the change simply aligns veterinarians with other health professions that use standard reciprocity language. "It's just removing one small barrier," Belcher said.

Britney McMahon, director of the Board of Veterinary Medicine, testified the board "fully supports Senate Bill 56" and that staff receive daily reciprocity requests that the bill would streamline. Samantha Chapman, Indiana state director for Humane World for Animals, said the group supported the bill because the statewide veterinarian shortage affects both animal care and public‑health preparedness.

Sen. Blake Dorio moved to pass the bill; the motion was seconded and the committee conducted a roll‑call vote. The committee recorded eight yeas, zero nays and one excused; Senate Bill 56 passed the committee and will move forward in the legislative process.

The committee did not attach additional training or Indiana‑specific testing to the reciprocity pathway; witnesses said the Board would verify applicants' disciplinary history and good standing with other jurisdictions. Chair Lisinger invited members and stakeholders to propose any clarifying amendments if needed before the bill proceeds.

Vote at a glance: Senate Bill 56 (veterinary licensure reciprocity) — Motion: move to pass; Mover: Sen. Blake Dorio; Second: Sen. Brett Clark; Result: Passed, 8 yeas, 0 nays, 1 excused.