Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Ezzell
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/21/25
SHORT TITLE Equine Dental Maintenance
BILL
NUMBER Senate Bill 412
ANALYST Sanchez
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
NMLB No fiscal impact
Indeterminate
but minimal
Indeterminate
but minimal
Indeterminate
but minimal
Recurring General Fund
BVM No fiscal impact
Indeterminate
but minimal
Indeterminate
but minimal
Indeterminate
but minimal
Recurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
Board of Veterinary Medicine (BVM)
Livestock Board (NMLB)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Senate Bill 412
Senate Bill 412 (SB412) amends Section 61-14-14, NMSA 1978 of the Veterinary Practice Act.
The bill proposes adding an exemption for equine dental maintenance, which would allow
individuals certified by the International Association of Equine Dentistry or another board-
approved certification entity to perform specific dental procedures on horses without being
licensed veterinarians. The exemption would include the removal of enamel points, smoothing,
contouring, and leveling of dental arcades and incisors, as well as the removal of deciduous and
mobile teeth.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
SB412 is not expected to result in direct fiscal impacts on state agencies. Analyses from both the
New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) and the New Mexico Livestock Board
(NMLB) indicate no anticipated increases in expenditures or revenue changes for their respective
agencies. The bill does not contain appropriations or require additional state funding for
implementation. Senate Bill 412 – Page 2
However, SB412 could have indirect economic effects on veterinarians, equine dental
practitioners, and horse owners. By exempting certified equine dental practitioners from the
requirements of the Veterinary Practice Act, the bill may reduce costs for horse owners who
would otherwise seek veterinary services for routine dental maintenance. This change could shift
revenue from veterinarians to non-veterinary equine dental providers, potentially affecting the
income of veterinary practices that offer equine dental services.
The BVM has raised concerns regarding potential risks associated with the administration of
tranquilizers and the adequacy of dental procedures performed by non-veterinarian practitioners.
If improper procedures result in complications, horse owners could incur additional costs for
corrective veterinary care. Additionally, any increase in demand for regulatory oversight of
certified equine dental practitioners could present administrative considerations, though no state
agency has identified an expected fiscal impact in this regard.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
SB412 proposes an amendment to the Veterinary Practice Act that would exempt certain
certified practitioners from its requirements when performing equine dental maintenance. The
bill establishes certification through the International Association of Equine Dentistry or another
board-approved entity as the qualifying standard for this exemption.
The New Mexico BVM has expressed concerns that the bill would create the first exemption for
a specific veterinary procedure, which could lead to similar requests for exemptions in other
areas of animal care, such as farrier services, chiropractic treatments, or acupuncture.
Additionally, the board notes that equine dental procedures often require sedation, and the bill
does not address whether certified equine dental practitioners would be authorized to administer
tranquilizers, which are currently regulated substances. The board also highlights the challenge
of ensuring procedural quality because horse owners may have difficulty assessing whether a
dental procedure was performed thoroughly.
The bill does not alter existing regulatory authority over veterinary practices beyond the scope of
equine dental maintenance or establish new state oversight mechanisms for certified equine
dental practitioners. It remains unclear how enforcement or consumer protections would apply in
cases of improper or inadequate dental procedures performed under this exemption.
SS/rl/hg/sgs