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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1354*
HOUSE BILL 1354
M4 6lr2214
By: Delegates Hornberger, Miller, T. Morgan, Schmidt, and Ziegler
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners – Veterinarians, Veterinary 2
Technicians, and Veterinary Assistants 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to expand 4
a certain expedited process for authorizing a certain veterinary practitioner licensed 5
to practice veterinary medicine in another state or jurisdiction to become licensed to 6
practice veterinary medicine in the State to include a similar expedited process for 7
veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants; allowing the Board to provide an 8
authorization under a certain expedited process only under certain circumstances; 9
requiring the Board to establish a process to a llow time spent as a veterinary 10
technician to be credited toward meeting certain education or training requirements 11
for licensure as a veterinary practitioner ; requiring the Veterinary Technician 12
Committee, subject to the Board’s approval, to establish a process to allow time spent 13
as a veterinary assistant to be credited toward meeting certain qualifications for 14
registration as a veterinary technician; and generally relating to the State Board of 15
Veterinary Medical Examiners. 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Agriculture 18
Section 2–305.1, 2–306(a), and 2–309 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
Article – Agriculture 24
2–305.1. 25
2 HOUSE BILL 1354
(a) (1) The Board may authorize the practice of a health occupation on an 1
animal by a health care practitioner licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the 2
Health Occupations Article. 3
(2) If the Board authorizes the practice of a health occupation on an animal 4
under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Board may: 5
(i) Impose requirements for education, training, and supervision by 6
a veterinary practitioner; and 7
(ii) Require the registration of each health care practitioner 8
authorized to practice a health occupation on an animal in accordance with this subsection. 9
(b) (1) [The] SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 10
Board shall establish an expedited process to authorize [a]: 11
(I) A veterinary practitioner who holds a current, valid license to 12
practice veterinary medicine in another state or jurisdiction to become licensed to practice 13
veterinary medicine in the State; AND 14
(II) A VETERINARY ASSISTANT OR VETERINARY TECHNICIAN 15
WHO HOLDS A N AUTHORIZATION OR A REGISTRATION TO PERFORM VETERINARY 16
CARE IN ANOTHER STATE OR JURISDICTION TO PERFORM OR BECOME REGISTERED 17
TO PERFORM VETERINARY CARE IN THE STATE. 18
(2) THE BOARD MAY PROVIDE AN AUTHORIZATION UNDER 19
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION ONLY IF THE STATE OR JURIS DICTION IN 20
WHICH THE APPLICANT IS LICENSED, AUTHORIZED, OR REGISTERED , AS 21
APPLICABLE, OFFERS A SIMILAR RECIPROCAL PROCESS TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED, 22
AUTHORIZED, OR REGISTERED BY THE BOARD. 23
2–306. 24
(a) (1) The Board has the exclusive power to establish and alter the standards 25
of preliminary and professional education and training requirements of applicants for the 26
examination for a license. 27
(2) THE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO ALLOW TIME SPENT 28
AS A VETERINARY TECH NICIAN TO BE CREDITE D TOWARD MEETING THE 29
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OR TRAININ G REQUIREMENTS FOR L ICENSURE AS A 30
VETERINARY PRACTITIONER. 31
(3) The Board may establish an annual continuing education requirement 32
of at least 12 hours as a condition to any license renewal. 33
HOUSE BILL 1354 3
2–309. 1
(a) A person may register with the Board as a veterinary technician. 2
(b) (1) There is a Veterinary Technician Committee under the Board’s 3
jurisdiction. The Committee consists of 7 members who are appointed by the Board, subject 4
to the approval of the Secretary. The Board shall determine the qualifications and term of 5
each member. 6
(2) Each member of the Committee may not receive compensation but is 7
entitled to re imbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations as 8
provided in the State budget. 9
(c) The Committee, subject to the Board’s approval shall: 10
(1) Evaluate, examine, and determine the qualifications for applicants for 11
registration as a veterinary technician; 12
(2) Recommend to the Board the subject, scope, form, date, time, and 13
location for each examination; 14
(3) ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO ALLOW TIME SPENT AS A VETERINARY 15
ASSISTANT TO BE CRED ITED TOWARD MEETING THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR 16
REGISTRATION AS A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN; 17
(4) Establish continuing education requirements for veterinary 18
technicians; 19
[(4)] (5) Define the duties and responsibilities of registered veterinary 20
technicians; 21
[(5)] (6) Recommend to the Board reasonable rules and regulations to 22
carry out the provisions of this section; and 23
[(6)] (7) Generally assist the Board in registering and regulating 24
veterinary technicians. 25
(d) To apply for registration, an applicant shall: 26
(1) Submit an application to the Board on the form the Board requires; and 27
(2) Pay to the Board an application fee set by the Board. 28
(e) The Board shall register any applicant who: 29
(1) Meets the requirements of this section; 30
4 HOUSE BILL 1354
(2) Meets the Board’s educational requirements; 1
(3) Passes a Board approved examination; 2
(4) Is of good moral character; and 3
(5) Is at least 18 years old. 4
(f) A registration is issued for a term of 3 years and expires on June 30 of the 5
third year after the date issued unless the registration is rene wed as provided in this 6
section. 7
(g) The Board shall renew the registration of any applicant for an additional 8
3–year term if the applicant: 9
(1) Submits a renewal application on the form that the Board requires; 10
(2) Pays to the Board a renewal fee set by the Board; 11
(3) Complies with the Board’s continuing education requirements; and 12
(4) Otherwise is entitled to be registered. 13
(h) In accordance with the hearing provisions of § 2–311 of this subtitle, the Board 14
may refuse to register an appli cant, suspend or revoke the registration, or reprimand and 15
censure, or place on probation any veterinary technician, if the veterinary technician: 16
(1) Practices veterinary medicine except as permitted under this subtitle; 17
(2) Fraudulently or deceptively obtains a registration; 18
(3) Is professionally, physically, or mentally incompetent; 19
(4) Is convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; 20
(5) Is convicted of a violation of any federal or State law relating to narcotic 21
drugs; 22
(6) Is grossly negligent or deliberately cruel to an animal; 23
(7) Violates any provisions of this subtitle; or 24
(8) Is determined by the Board to be incompetent as a veterinary 25
technician. 26
HOUSE BILL 1354 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2026. 2