1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to agriculture; abolishing the Board of Animal Health and transferring its
1.3 duties to the Department of Agriculture; establishing the Animal Health Advisory
1.4 Council; requiring a report; authorizing rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes
1.5 2024, section 35.01, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in
1.6 Minnesota Statutes, chapter 35; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 35.01,
1.7 subdivision 2; 35.02; 35.03.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 35.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.10to read:
1.11 Subd. 2a.Commissioner."Commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture.
1.12 Sec. 2. [35.025] ANIMAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.
1.13 (a) The commissioner shall protect the health of Minnesota domestic animals and carry
1.14out the provisions of this chapter. The commissioner shall make rules necessary to protect
1.15the health of domestic animals. On or before November 1 of each year, the commissioner
1.16shall publish an annual report. The University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
1.17is the official laboratory for the commissioner. At least quarterly, the director of the
1.18Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory must report on the laboratory's activities.
1.19 (b) The commissioner must appoint eight members to the Animal Health Advisory
1.20Council:
1.21 (1) three of whom are producers of livestock in the state;
1.22 (2) one of whom is a member of a federally recognized Tribe located in Minnesota who
1.23is experienced in animal husbandry;
1Sec. 2.
REVISOR SS/BM 25-0445903/06/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2541
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Hansen, R.,03/20/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy 2.1 (3) one of whom is an epidemiologist; and
2.2 (4) three of whom are practicing veterinarians licensed in Minnesota, one of whom
2.3specializes in companion animals.
2.4To the extent practicable, the governor's appointments must achieve gender and geographic
2.5balance among the board membership.
2.6 (c) The Animal Health Advisory Council must advise the commissioner in the
2.7administration of this chapter. The Animal Health Advisory Council shall meet at least
2.8quarterly. Notwithstanding section 15.014, the Animal Health Advisory Council does not
2.9expire.
2.10 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective January 1, 2026.
2.11 Sec. 3. ABOLISHED; BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH.
2.12 The Board of Animal Health is abolished and its duties, as previously codified in
2.13Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 35.03, and is transferred to the commissioner pursuant to
2.14Minnesota Statutes, section 15.039.
2.15 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective January 1, 2026.
2.16 Sec. 4. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
2.17 The revisor of statutes must recodify the relevant sections in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
2.1835, and Minnesota Rules, chapters 1700 to 1721, as necessary to conform with section 1.
2.19The revisor must also change the responsible agency, remove obsolete language, and make
2.20necessary cross-reference changes.
2.21 Sec. 5. REPEALER.
2.22 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 35.01, subdivision 2; 35.02; and 35.03, are repealed.
2.23 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective January 1, 2026.
2Sec. 5.
REVISOR SS/BM 25-0445903/06/25 35.01 DEFINITIONS.
Subd. 2.Board; state board."Board" or "state board" means the Board of Animal Health.
35.02 BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH.
Subdivision 1.Members; officers.The board has seven members appointed by the governor
with the advice and consent of the senate, three of whom are producers of livestock in the state;
one of whom is a member of a federally recognized Tribe located in Minnesota who is experienced
in animal husbandry; and three of whom are practicing veterinarians licensed in Minnesota, one of
whom specializes in companion animals. To the extent practicable, the governor's appointments
must achieve gender and geographic balance among the board membership. The commissioners of
agriculture, natural resources, and health, the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the
director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory of the University of Minnesota may serve as
consultants to the board without vote. Appointments to fill unexpired terms must be made from the
classes to which the retiring members belong. The board shall elect a president and a vice-president
from among its members and a veterinarian licensed in Minnesota who is not a member to be its
executive director for a term of one year and until a successor qualifies. The board shall set the
duties of the director.
Subd. 2.Terms; compensation; removal; vacancies.The membership terms, compensation,
removal of members, and filling of vacancies on the board are governed by section 15.0575.
35.03 POWERS, DUTIES, AND REPORTS.
The board shall protect the health of Minnesota domestic animals and carry out the provisions
of this chapter. The board shall make rules necessary to protect the health of domestic animals. The
board shall meet at least quarterly. Officers must be elected each April. On or before November 1
of each year the board shall publish an annual report. The University of Minnesota Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory is the official laboratory for the board. At least quarterly, the director of the
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory must report on the laboratory's activities.
1R
APPENDIX
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-04459