Farmer-Veterinarian Animal Care Authority
Summary
Kentucky HB111 was signed into law by Governor, creating a new section of KRS Chapter 257 that permits farmers and their veterinarians to solely determine and implement on-farm animal health care and production practices. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers (94-0 House, 38-0 Senate). This legislation clarifies the authority of farmer-veterinarian relationships in animal health decision-making.
What changed
Kentucky HB111 creates a new statutory section within KRS Chapter 257 establishing that on-farm animal health care determinations and implementation decisions may be made solely by a farmer and his or her veterinarian without additional regulatory approval. The bill passed with unanimous legislative support through both House and Senate during the 2026 Regular Session.
Farmers and livestock producers in Kentucky should review their current animal health protocols to ensure veterinarian relationships are properly documented. While the bill does not impose compliance deadlines or penalties, it grants explicit statutory protection for farmer-veterinarian decision-making authority that may simplify animal health management practices.
What to do next
- Review current animal health protocols to align with new farmer-veterinarian authority provisions
- Ensure formal veterinarian-client relationships are documented and maintained
- Update internal procedures to reflect sole authority of farmer-veterinarian decision-making for on-farm animal health
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Kentucky / HB111 Signed by Governor HB111 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-03
AN ACT relating to on-farm animal health.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 257 to allow the determination and implementation of an on-farm animal health care or animal health production practice to be made solely by a farmer and his or her veterinarian.
Bill Details
State Kentucky
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb111....
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Sponsors
Ryan Bivens (Rep - R) George Brown (Rep - D) Beverly Chester-Burton (Rep - D) Daniel Elliott (Rep - R) Daniel Fister (Rep - R) Kim King (Rep - R) Derek Lewis (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-03 H signed by Governor 2026-03-26 H delivered to Governor 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-26 H received in House 2026-03-25 S 3rd reading, passed 38-0 2026-03-24 S passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day 2026-03-20 S posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026 2026-03-11 S 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill 2026-03-10 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar 2026-03-06 S to Agriculture (S) 2026-02-23 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-02-23 S received in Senate 2026-02-20 H 3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-02-19 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, February 20 2026 2026-02-19 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-02-18 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-01-14 H to Agriculture (H) 2026-01-07 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-07 H introduced in House
Votes
2026-02-20 House: Veto Override RCS# 124 Yea: 94 Nay: 0 2026-03-25 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3991 Yea: 38 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-07 H Committee On Committees 2026-01-14 H Agriculture 2026-02-19 H Rules 2026-02-23 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-06 S Agriculture 2026-03-11 S Rules
Amendments
0000-00-00 House Committee Substitute
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed
Subjects
Agriculture Animals, Livestock, and Poultry Veterinarians Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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