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SF 296 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act allowing police service dogs to receive emergency veterinary medical services while on duty.

This bill allows certified emergency medical care providers (EMCPs) to provide immediate, life-stabilizing veterinary care to severely injured police service dogs while they are on duty. EMCPs can diagnose or treat these dogs, but only after all human patients at the scene have been treated, and they must not use equipment needed for humans or delay responding to human emergencies. Providers acting reasonably and in good faith are protected from civil liability for this care. However, police service dogs cannot be transported in vehicles designed for human emergency medical services.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Enrolled with Governor's Action · 4 edits · May 6, 2025
MODERATE
This bill allows emergency medical care providers to provide emergency veterinary services to severely injured police service dogs on duty, with liability protection for providers who act reasonably. The law establishes specific requirements for when and how these services can be rendered, including priority for human patients and restrictions on transporting injured dogs in ambulances.
Scope change
The bill expands legal protections for police service dogs by allowing emergency medical personnel to provide veterinary care when dogs are injured while on duty, creating a new exception to standard veterinary licensing requirements.
ELIGIBILITY

Emergency medical care providers certified under chapter 147A can now diagnose or treat severely injured police service dogs on duty, subject to specific conditions.

REQUIREMENT

Providers must prioritize human patients and cannot use equipment needed for human treatment or when dispatched to another location.

Injured police service dogs cannot be transported in vehicles that provide emergency medical or ambulance services.

ENFORCEMENT

Emergency medical care providers are protected from civil liability when acting reasonably and in good faith while providing veterinary services to police dogs.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2025 · House Apr 21, 2025

How they voted

46–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 49
Mar 11, 2025
D Democratic16
14 Yea 2
87% Yea
R Republican33
32 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 6, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
upper
Apr 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 90, nays 1.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee vote: Yeas, 22. Nays, 1.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Mar 19, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/20/2025 12:30PM RM 102.
legislature
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee: Vondran, Gjerde and Wills, J.
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 47, nays 0.
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, approving bill.
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.