SENATE PASSES BIPARTISAN BILL TO EXPAND ALLIED ANIMAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
FRANKFORT, KY (Feb. 19, 2025) — The Senate passed bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 69, sponsored by Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, and co-sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, that aims to expand and modernize the state’s veterinary laws by establishing new allied animal health professional licenses for equine dentistry and animal chiropractic practice. The bill will also establish an Allied Animal Health Professional Advisory Board.
“This bill is a step forward in ensuring that Kentucky’s animals receive the highest standard of care while recognizing the expertise of trained professionals in equine dentistry and animal chiropractic practice,” said Webb. “By expanding these services, we’re enhancing animal welfare, supporting our agricultural economy, and increasing access to specialized care.”
The proposed legislation also includes provisions to amend KRS 321.187 regarding the retention of original patient records and updates to various sections of KRS Chapter 321 to ensure consistency across Kentucky’s veterinary laws.
Howell, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, praised the bill’s focus on improving access to essential animal health services.
“Kentucky is known for its deep connection to the equine industry and animal agriculture,” said Howell. “This legislation helps modernize our approach by recognizing highly trained allied animal health professionals, ensuring our animals get the care they need while maintaining the highest standards of veterinary oversight.”
"Emergency care" refers to immediate treatment required to sustain an animal's life or alleviate suffering in a life-threatening condition. "Equine dentistry" involves diagnosing, treating, or performing surgical procedures on a horse's head or oral cavity. This includes procedures that invade the oral tissues, such as removing sharp enamel projections, correcting malocclusions, reshaping teeth, or extracting one or more teeth. It also covers treating or extracting damaged or diseased teeth, performing restorative and endodontic procedures, and providing periodontal treatments. These treatments may involve removing plaque, calculus, soft deposits, and stains above the gum line, as well as smoothing, filing, and polishing tooth surfaces.
The bill also establishes the Allied Animal Health Professional Advisory Board, which will guide and oversee these newly recognized professionals, ensuring they operate within established standards to safeguard animal health and welfare.
The legislation has already received broad support from Kentucky’s agriculture and veterinary communities. SB 69 bill passed the Senate with unanimous support and will now go to the House for their consideration.
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Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, represents the 1st Senate District, including Calloway, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, and Trigg Counties. Howell serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and co-chairs the Tobacco Settlement Committee. He is vice chair on the License and Occupation Standing Committee and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committees. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Banking and Insurance, and Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor. Additionally, Howell serves on the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee.
For a high-resolution .jpeg of Howell, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate101.jpg.
