An Arkansas bill that would allow equine dentists who are not veterinarians to float horses’ teeth without facing prosecution from that state’s Veterinary Medical Examining Board advanced on March 18 when it was passed by the Arkansas House of Representatives.

The bill, HB 1763, would prohibit the Arkansas Veterinarian Medical Examining Board from investigating or prosecuting nonveterinarians who float horses’ teeth or perform equine massage until July 1, 2013. The two-year moratorium is intended to allow state lawmakers to study veterinary medical issues for later consideration.

The bill also exempts professional farriers, trainers, and individuals who collect semen and perform nonsurgical artificial insemination from investigation from the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Practice Act.

David Blount, DVM, Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association’s spokesman on the issue, was unavailable to comment on the legislation