MVMA Governmental Affairs Committee Spotlight

One of the most powerful ways a state veterinary medical association serves its members and the profession is through advocacy at the state legislature. MVMA’s advocacy work is shepherded by our Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC), made up of members who gather twice a year to discuss issues and legislation impacting the profession and set priorities that inform its work.

MVMA’s advocacy work seeks to protect veterinary professionals and advance animal wellbeing in Minnesota. Sometimes, that means supporting or opposing a bill that’s been introduced at the legislature. At other times, it means working to draft a bill that addresses an issue the profession is facing, or advocating for updates and improvements to current legislation. 

Recently, the committee’s new chair, Dr. Ann Brownlee, vice chair, Dr. Jessica Fox, and immediate past chair, Dr. Trevor Ames, sat down to share insights into the committee’s work and the importance of its role. 

GAC meetings bring together MVMA members, MVMA lobbyists, and leaders from stakeholder organizations such as the U of M College of Veterinary Medicine, MN Board of Animal Health, MN Department of Health, and MN Board of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to sharing information and setting priorities at these meetings, the committee cultivates relationships with allied stakeholder groups, coordinates testimony before the legislature, and activates networks when it’s important for legislators to hear the veterinary perspective from constituents. “MVMA can use its organizational structure and broad membership to have a pretty strong impact at the Capitol,” said Dr. Ames.    

Key Accomplishments

One of the most notable accomplishments in recent memory is the passage of Veterinary Technician Licensure during the 2024 legislative season. The initiative didn’t start with governmental affairs; it was something that came out of MVMA’s Veterinary Technicians Committee, where it had been “simmering” for years. Often, issues will be surfaced and worked on by volunteers serving on one of MVMA’s many committees before being brought to GAC. Then, Governmental Affairs provides the framework to move things forward in coordination with our lobbyists and stakeholders. As Dr. Fox put it, “We’re the ones who help bring it home!”

Dr. Ames said advocacy work can be a long game. “With anything government relations, you have to wait for the stars to align to get anything through. And it’s really rewarding when you are successful.” With veterinary technician licensure, a big impediment was finally overcome when after much effort, MVMA was able to get the right stakeholders in front of a key legislator—who had made an incorrect assumption—and demonstrate that all were aligned in favor.

Dr. Ames first began attending GAC meetings during his tenure as dean of the U of M College of Veterinary Medicine, and remembers being very impressed with how proactive MVMA was about legislative issues and investing in lobbyists. Throughout the year, MVMA’s lobbyists provide important perspective, guidance, and connections as the committee works to influence and effect change at the state legislature.

Other issues the committee has worked on include: opposing (successfully so far) the creation of a Companion Animal Board (thus preserving the strength, integrity, and autonomy of the Board of Animal Health), advocating for the Rural Veterinary Loan Forgiveness program and other key funding, and the 2014 breeder bill for which MVMA helped bridge the gap between breeders, the public, and the government.

“An important under-the-radar accomplishment was veterinarian immunity,” Dr. Brownlee shared. “Most other professions that are mandatory reporters, such as doctors and teachers, have immunity.” But until a few years ago, veterinarians didn’t, meaning that if they reported suspected animal cruelty but were wrong, they could be sued. It was blocked for a long time in a committee out of fear that false accusations would proliferate. “It took really close work between MVMA’s Governmental Affairs Committee and our lobbyists to get this passed,” said Dr. Fox. Dr. Brownlee agreed: “I don’t think veterinarians knew they were at risk, and protecting us is huge.”

Member Involvement Matters

Unlike Dr. Ames, Drs. Brownlee and Fox didn’t have much experience in governmental affairs when they decided to join the committee. Dr. Fox was looking for a way to get more involved with MVMA after graduation, and GAC was suggested. At her first meeting, during a discussion on a bill about gas chamber euthanasia, she noticed some problematic language in the bill. She remembers feeling nervous about speaking up and sharing her perspective—but she did. “I felt like I made an impact,” Dr. Fox shared. And she has made it to almost every GAC meeting since. 

Dr. Fox is a huge advocate for having a variety of voices representing the profession in attendance at GAC meetings. It gives all involved a better understanding of the different experiences of veterinary professionals and a more accurate and nuanced sense of how the profession feels. And that gives the association an even more powerful voice.

Dr. Brownlee doesn’t remember being drawn to joining GAC because of any particular issue, but she does recall that “once I went, I was hooked—I found it interesting and engaging.” In particular, she really enjoyed working closely with the veterinary technician licensure legislation, and believes in its importance.

“Without the MVMA, there is no organization to bring ideas forward,” Dr. Ames pointed out. “The work starts in the committees of the MVMA, then those ideas come up to GAC and if changes need to be made in legislation, or the practice act, there is an organization that can bring that forward and work with allied groups.” 

An important role of GAC is to be vigilant and protect the profession from potentially harmful legislation. “In this age of deemphasizing expertise, professions need to be ever-vigilant in standing up and defending their role and protecting the public in doing so,” said Dr. Ames. 

Learn More & Get Involved

Issues currently on the committee’s radar this upcoming legislative season include a potential bill to ban elective cat declawing, updates to the Veterinary Practice Act, and veterinary technician rules. GAC leadership welcomes your thoughts, perspectives, and involvement!

The Governmental Affairs Committee meets twice per year: in November and during the MVMA Annual Conference in January or February. Committee membership is open to all MVMA members, and you are welcome to attend a meeting without obligation to join. We encourage you to get involved—the more members who join us in this work, the stronger and more representative of the profession we are!

Remember that Veterinary Day at the Capitol on March 4 is another important way to get involved. The more who participate, the wider our reach, as we can only meet with legislators representing districts where participants live.

If you are interested in joining the committee and/or getting involved, please reach out to us at [email protected] or 651-645-7533. 

Article by Jenn Stromberg, MVMA Marketing & Communications Manager