PIERRE, S.D. – The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee killed a bill that would have allowed non-veterinarians to perform dental work on horses.
House Bill 1176, which sought to authorize certified equine dental practitioners to perform dental procedures, failed on a 5-2 vote to send it to the 41st day.
Rep. Jana Hunt, R-Dupree, brought the bill to address a shortage of large animal veterinarians in South Dakota.
The bill would have exempted certified equine dental practitioners from veterinary practice laws when performing specific procedures like removing enamel points and smoothing teeth, provided they register with the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
Rep. Liz May, R-Kyle, supported the measure, citing access issues for rural horse owners.
“For us personally, if we have to have a horse vet, we have to drive 150 miles to get a horse to a vet that can deal with some of these issues,” May said.
Wayne Needham, president of the International Association of Equine Dentistry, testified from Texas that the IAED requires 240 hours of education and certification.
Veterinarians opposed the bill, citing safety concerns and lack of regulatory oversight.
Dr. Michelle Jensen from Lincoln County warned about consumer protection issues.
Dr. Rachel Shutter from Pennington County testified about emergencies resulting from improper dental work.
“As an equine practitioner, I have seen over the years several different complications and emergencies that arise from both certified and non-certified dentists,” Shutter said.
Sen. Sydney Davis, R-Burbank, moved to send the bill to the 41st day, effectively killing it for this session.
“I appreciate the sponsor’s intent and heart in this bill,” Davis said at 42:34. “I feel like this bill just needs more time to bring people together.”
Chair Sen. Tom Pischke, R-Dell Rapids, suggested Hunt return next session with a stronger bill after working with the veterinary industry.
