HF3718

Veterinary medicine and veterinary technology practice provisions modified.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

Related bill: SF4069

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

The bill updates Minnesota law to govern the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology. It adds new definitions, aligns accreditation terminology with national standards, and clarifies roles, permissions, and activities related to caring for animals (including how clients interact with veterinarians, what counts as dispensing and consulting, and how off-label or emergency care can be provided).

Main Provisions

Accreditation groundwork
- Defines Accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine as a school that offers the doctor of veterinary medicine degree and meets American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education standards.
- Defines Accredited program of veterinary technology as a postsecondary program offering a veterinary technology degree (or equivalent) and accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities.
New and clarified definitions
- Animal: Clarified to exclude poultry; includes nonhuman mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles.
- Client: Means a patient’s owner, owner’s agent, or other person presenting a patient for care.
- Compensation: Includes all fees, monetary rewards, discounts, remuneration, and emoluments (paid or received).
- Consent: Verbal or written permission to exams, tests, procedures, or treatments, express or implied.
- Consulting: Seeking and receiving advice from a licensed veterinarian or other relevant expert by any method (in person, phone, electronic, etc.) to help manage a case.
- Dispensing: Distributing veterinary drugs that require a prescription, over-the-counter drugs for a patient, or human drugs for off-label use for a patient, by a licensed pharmacist or a person licensed by the Veterinary Medicine board.
- Donor: An individual 18+ or a legally authorized entity that donates medication or supplies, meeting legal requirements for donation.
- Emergency stabilization: Providing care for a lifethreatening condition when immediate treatment is needed to sustain life, prevent deterioration, or alleviate suffering.
- Extralabel use (off-label use): Using a human or veterinary drug in animals in a manner not described on the drug’s labeling.
Key definitional additions to practice
- Licensed veterinary technician or veterinary technician: A person licensed by the veterinary board (board of veterinary medicine) as a veterinary technician.
Reorganization and codification
- The bill adds multiple subdivisions and repeals several older subdivisions and sections within Minnesota Statutes 2024, relocating or codifying definitions and related rules into Minnesota Statutes chapter 156, aligning with the new definitions and practices.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Expanded terminology and definitions: Adds comprehensive definitions for client, consent, consulting, dispensing, donor, emergency stabilization, extralabel use, and related terms to modernize and clarify veterinary practice.
Accreditation alignment: Establishes clear criteria for what counts as an accredited college of veterinary medicine and an accredited veterinary technology program, referencing AVMA standards.
Practice scope clarifications: By defining terms like consulting, dispensing, and extralabel use, the bill clarifies allowable activities and the roles of veterinarians and veterinary technicians in clinical care.
Emergency and off-label care: Codifies emergency stabilization and extralabel use definitions, potentially affecting when and how off-label or lifesaving interventions can be used.
Client and donor concepts: Introduces and defines the role of clients and donors in veterinary care and drug/patient handling.
Administrative changes: Repeals certain existing subdivisions and sections as part of the transition to the new structure, consolidating related provisions under the revised framework.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

Clarity for practitioners: Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and clinics gain clearer definitions for common activities (consenting, consulting, dispensing, off-label use, and emergency care).
Accreditation requirements: Programs and colleges must meet AVMA standards to be recognized under the new definitions, which could affect education providers and licensing pathways.
Drug handling and safety: Dispensing and donor provisions may influence how medicines and supplies are distributed within clinics and through donors or pharmacies.
Patient care workflow: The client and consent definitions may affect how information is gathered, how decisions are communicated, and who has authority to approve procedures.
Emergency and off-label procedures: Explicit definitions for emergency stabilization and extralabel use could impact clinical decision-making in urgent situations.

Terminology Inclusion (key terms carried into summary)

Accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine
Accredited program of veterinary technology
Animal
Client
Consent
Consulting
Dispensing
Donor
Emergency stabilization
Extralabel use
Licensed veterinary technician
AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association)
Board of Pharmacy
Board of Veterinary Medicine
Minnesota Statutes chapter 156

Relevant Terms - Accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine - Accredited program of veterinary technology - Animal - Client - Consent - Consulting - Dispensing - Donor - Emergency stabilization - Extralabel use - Licensed veterinary technician - AVMA - Board of Pharmacy - Board of Veterinary Medicine - Minnesota Statutes 156

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF PDF file
2nd Engrossment PDF PDF file
1st Engrossment PDF PDF file

Past committee meetings

Agriculture Finance and Policy on: March 04, 2026 13:00
Agriculture Finance and Policy on: March 11, 2026 13:00

Actions

Date	Chamber	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 16, 2026	House	Action	Second reading
April 07, 2026	House	Action	House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day
April 09, 2026	House	Action	Amended
April 09, 2026	House	Action	Third reading as amended
April 09, 2026	House	Action	Bill was passed as amended
April 13, 2026	Senate	Action	Received from House
April 13, 2026	Senate	Action	Introduction and first reading
April 13, 2026	Senate	Action	Referred to	Rules and Administration

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds definition of Accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine aligned with AVMA Council on Education standards."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines Accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Animal definition amended.",
      "modified": [
        "Animal definition is amended to exclude poultry from the definition of Animal."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds Subd.4a defining Client as a patient's owner, owner’s agent, or other person presenting a patient for care."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Client definition.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.4a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Expands Compensation to include but is not limited to fees, monetary rewards, discounts, remunerations, and emoluments received directly or indirectly."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Expands the definition of Compensation.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Consent means verbal or written permission for performing an examination, administering a diagnostic test, administering a procedure, or providing treatment to a patient; includes express or implied permission."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Consent definition.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.5b"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Consulting means seeking and receiving advice in person, by telephone, electronically, or by any method from a licensed veterinarian or other expert as appropriate."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Consulting definition.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.5c"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Dispensing means distributing veterinary drugs requiring a prescription, over-the-counter drugs for a patient, or human drugs for extralabel use by a licensed pharmacist or veterinary professional."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Dispensing definition.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.5d"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Donor means an individual at least 18 years old or an entity legally authorized to possess medicine with appropriate licensure, for donation."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Donor definition.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.5e"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Emergency stabilization defines care for lifethreatening conditions when immediate treatment is necessary."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Emergency stabilization definition.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.6b"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Extralabel use means the use of a drug in a manner not in accordance with labeling."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Extralabel use definition.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.6c"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Licensed veterinary technician means a person licensed by the board under section 156.077."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines Licensed veterinary technician.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.7a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [
        "Repeals 156.001 Subd.9."
      ],
      "summary": "Repeals Subd.9 of 156.001.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.001",
    "subdivision": "Subd.9"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [
        "Repeals 156.01 Subd.2."
      ],
      "summary": "Repeals Subd.2 of 156.01.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.01",
    "subdivision": "Subd.2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [
        "Repeals 156.02 Subd.3."
      ],
      "summary": "Repeals Subd.3 of 156.02.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.02",
    "subdivision": "Subd.3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [
        "Repeals 156.072 Subd.3."
      ],
      "summary": "Repeals Subd.3 of 156.072.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.072",
    "subdivision": "Subd.3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [
        "Repeals 156.16 Subd.2, Subd.3, Subd.4, Subd.7, Subd.8, and Subd.11."
      ],
      "summary": "Repeals subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 11 of 156.16.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.16",
    "subdivision": "2,3,4,7,8,11"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [
        "Repeals 156.20.1.14."
      ],
      "summary": "Repeals 156.20.1.14.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.20.1.14",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds Subd.4 to 156.015 in the 2025 Supplement for coding new law."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Subd.4 in the Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement to propose coding for new law in chapter 156.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.015",
    "subdivision": "Subd.4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds Subd.1 to 156.01."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Subd.1 in 156.01 (as part of the added subdivisions to 156.01).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.01",
    "subdivision": "Subd.1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "May reflect addition to Subd.3 of 156.01.",
      "modified": [
        "Subd.3 amendments reflected in the bill text."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "156.01",
    "subdivision": "Subd.3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds Subd.1 and Subd.2 to 156.12."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds or amends Subd.1 and Subd.2 of 156.12.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.12",
    "subdivision": "Subd.1, Subd.2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds new section 156.121."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds 156.121 (new section).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.121",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds Subd.5, Subd.12, Subd.14 to 156.16."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Subd.5, Subd.12, and Subd.14 to 156.16.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.16",
    "subdivision": "Subd.5, Subd.12, Subd.14"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds Subd.1, Subd.2, Subd.4 to 156.18."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Subd.1, Subd.2, and Subd.4 to 156.18.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.18",
    "subdivision": "Subd.1, Subd.2, Subd.4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds 156.19."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Subdivision 156.19.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "156.19",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%

In Committee