SENATE BILL 412

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Candy Spence Ezzell

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE; ADDING AN EXEMPTION FOR EQUINE DENTAL MAINTENANCE.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 61-14-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 62, Section 10, as amended) is amended to read:

     "61-14-14. EXEMPTIONS.--Provisions of the Veterinary Practice Act do not apply to:

          A. employees of federal or state governments performing official duties;

          B. regular students in a veterinary school performing duties or actions assigned by an instructor or working under direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian during a school vacation period;

          C. reciprocal aid of neighbors in performing routine accepted livestock management practices;

          D. a veterinarian licensed in a foreign jurisdiction consulting with a licensed veterinarian;

          E. a merchant or manufacturer selling at the merchant's or manufacturer's regular place of business any medicine, feed, appliance or other product used in the prevention or treatment of animal disease;

          F. the owner of an animal and the owner's consignees and their employees while performing routine accepted livestock management practices in the care of animals belonging to the owner;

          G. a member of the faculty of a veterinary school performing the member's regular functions or a person lecturing or giving instruction or demonstration at a veterinary school or in connection with a continuing education course or seminar for licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians or persons holding or training for valid permits for artificial insemination or diagnosing pregnancy;

          H. a person selling or applying any pesticide, insecticide or herbicide; [or]

          I. a person engaging in bona fide scientific research that reasonably requires experimentation involving animals; or

          J. a person who provides equine dental maintenance, if certified to perform the maintenance by the international association of equine dentistry or another board-approved certification entity. As used in this subsection, "equine dental maintenance" means:

                (1) the removal of enamel points, smoothing, contouring and leveling of dental arcades and incisors; and

                (2) the removal of deciduous and mobile teeth."

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