No Rabies Tax In Tennessee!

We are very pleased to report that the Tennessee General Assembly has adjourned for the year without passing SB 3850/HB 3834 — the bill that would have added up to $2 per rabies vaccination in Tennessee. The bills stalled in the Finance committees of their respective houses, behind the budget deliberations. Thanks to the calls and e-mails from veterinarians and concerned pet owners, we let our elected officials know that these bills were not only unwelcome but a very bad idea for Tennessee!

Thank you very much to everyone who contacted representatives and senators to ask them to oppose these bills. Your voice was heard.

The General Assembly will have a new cast of characters after the November elections when it convenes again in January and all previous bills, such as the rabies bills, will be off the table. If these bills are brought back they will have to start from scratch. Let's hope that we don't hear any more in Tennessee about taxing vaccinations for pets.

Thanks again for contacting your elected officials to tell them to oppose these bills.

Tennessee TAX on Pet Vaccinations

Here is the latest information on SB 3850/HB 3834 in the Tennessee legislature. This bill has taken on a life of its own. Right now we don't know how much the state of Tennessee could end up tacking on to the cost of a rabies vaccination. The bill is still in committee so it hasn't passed yet.

From a friend with some inside information:

This started as a bill to increase from three days to five days, the amount of time an owner has to legally claim a dog or cat that is not wearing a vaccination tag or other identification, before the dog or cat may be adopted or destroyed.

The original bill has an unfavorable fiscal note (and little to no chance of passage), but an amendment has been filed that substitutes and replaces the original bill. This amendment has morphed the bill into something completely different.

If the bill passes, they will be raising the cost of rabies certificates in order to fund the state's rabies licensing program through fees rather than using money from the state's general fund. According to the revised fiscal note, this plan is already reflected in the Governor’s FY10-11 Recommended Budget, and the added fee will amount to $1 per registration.

According to an outside source, there is some pressure to add a further 25 to 50 cents onto the fee to pay for spay neuter programs.

The TVMA is OPPOSED to the bill (as amended), but momentum appears to be on the side of the amended bill passing. Why wouldn't it pass: it is projected to increase state revenue by $1 million and decrease state expenditures (from the general fund) by $1 million.

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