2019 Session Recap: HB 1099 Vetoed by Texas Governor

We are extremely disappointed that on Saturday Texas Governor Greg Abbott decided to veto HB 1099 relating to peace officer status for the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME). (Click here to read about why TVMA supported this bill.) This veto came as a surprise since the Governor’s office was consulted throughout the entire legislative process and even expressed approval of the bill through staff to some key legislative offices. They certainly never expressed any concerns regarding the issue this session until the veto, which occurred on the day before the final day to veto bills.

The veto statement, available at this link, seemed to miss the point of the bill entirely, which was to help stop unlicensed veterinary practice on the Texas/Mexico border and in some rural areas. This is highly unlikely to be the end of this important issue, and our Board of Directors will probably reconsider this bill and other alternatives in the future. It’s up to our members to help set the legislative agenda for TVMA, and issues of unlicensed veterinary practice are still very important.