North DakotaVeterinarians must examine animals before providing remote care
Veterinarians must examine animals in person before providing remote care, while general advice and urgent-care guidance follow separate rules.
What it does
Before providing veterinary care remotely, a veterinarian must examine the animal in person or visit where it lives or is managed. General advice and urgent-care guidance have separate rules.
People without veterinary licenses may provide listed services such as grooming, animal training, and farrier work. They may not diagnose, prescribe, or perform surgery, except for certain accepted livestock practices.
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians may seek help through an approved program without being reported solely for seeking it. The program may report safety concerns or refusal to follow its care plan.
Argument forPeople who groom, train, shoe, or massage animals may offer those services without a veterinary license, while staying within the listed limits.
Argument againstThe in-person exam rule could limit remote veterinary care for animals that are difficult to bring to a veterinarian.
More detail
A veterinarian must examine an animal in person, or visit where it lives or is managed, before providing veterinary care remotely. The rules cover veterinary services provided to animals in North Dakota, including services delivered remotely. Remote general advice and urgent-care guidance do not require an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Veterinary technicians may provide that advice and guidance without a veterinarian’s instructions. A veterinarian licensed elsewhere may provide remote care without a North Dakota license only as a continuation of a relationship established under this chapter. The in-person examination or visit must happen before veterinary telemedicine services are provided.
People who are not veterinarians or veterinary technicians may provide specified animal services without being treated as practicing veterinary medicine. This applies to people who are not veterinarians or veterinary technicians and are not otherwise exempt under the chapter. The listed services include grooming, training, horseshoeing, massage, microchip implantation, and accepted livestock management practices. This exception does not allow diagnosis, prescribing, or surgery, except surgery that is an accepted livestock management practice. The exception does not cover other animal services.
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians may voluntarily seek help through a board-approved treatment or monitoring program without being reported solely for seeking help. This applies to veterinarians and veterinary technicians seeking help for possible or existing impairment related to mental health or substance use. Program records that identify participants are confidential, with exceptions that include disclosures needed for care, legal proceedings, board discipline, or program noncompliance. The program may report a participant who refuses an evaluation or care plan, or whose condition could affect safe practice or threaten a patient or the public. Taking part in the program does not prevent discipline based on a complaint.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- May 2Filed with Secretary Of State 04/30Latest
- May 1Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 04/29Became Law
- Apr 28Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 28Signed by President
- Apr 25Signed by Speaker
- Apr 22Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 90 nays 4Major
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2129. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 16Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2129. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 16Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 1Major
- Apr 16Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 11Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Apr 1Conference committee appointed Hauck Nehring Tveit
- Mar 31Conference committee appointed Wobbema Powers Boschee
- Mar 31Refused to concur
- Mar 20Returned to Senate (12)
- Mar 19Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 92 nays 1Passed House
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2129. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Mar 17Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 12 0 2Minor
- Mar 13Committee Hearing 04:00
- Feb 25Introduced, first reading, referred Agriculture CommitteeMinor
- Feb 21Received from Senate
- Feb 20Second reading, passed, yeas 45 nays 2Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2129. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 20Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 19Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 4 0 1Minor
- Feb 14Committee Hearing 09:45
- Jan 16Committee Hearing 02:30
- Jan 7Introduced, first reading, referred Workforce Development CommitteeIntroduced
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