ESB 5899
In CommitteeSenate
Chiropractic/animals
Creating a license endorsement to allow qualified licensed chiropractors to perform chiropractic diagnosis and adjustments on nonhuman animals.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates a new license endorsement allowing Washington-licensed chiropractors to legally provide chiropractic adjustments and diagnosis to animals, following specific training and certification requirements. It establishes standards for practice, continuing education, recordkeeping, and collaboration with veterinarians, and includes protections for reporting animal cruelty.
- Creates a new animal chiropractic license endorsement that allows qualified, currently licensed Washington chiropractors to provide chiropractic care to animals.
- Requires chiropractors to complete 210 hours of approved animal chiropractic training or hold a current certification from an approved organization (e.g., American Veterinary Chiropractic Association) before applying for the endorsement.
- Sets a three-year renewal cycle, requiring proof of current endorsement, continuing education (at least 30 hours every three years), and payment of renewal fees.
- Limits imaging to reviewing existing reports only—chiropractors may not order or perform X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound on animals.
- Requires animal chiropractors to refer clients to veterinarians for non-chiropractic health issues, maintain patient records, and provide emergency contact information for nearby veterinarians or clinics.
- Grants civil and criminal liability immunity to chiropractors who report suspected animal cruelty in good faith, as long as they do not financially benefit from the cruelty incident.
Who is affected
- Licensed chiropractors in Washington — Must hold a valid Washington chiropractic license and complete approved training or certification to legally provide chiropractic care to animals.
- Pet owners and animal owners — May receive chiropractic care for their animals from licensed professionals, and have rights to access patient records and ensure their animals receive appropriate veterinary care.
- Veterinarians — Must coordinate care with animal chiropractors and retain responsibility for non-chiropractic veterinary treatment of animals.
- Washington State Department of Health and Veterinary Board of Governors — Will receive annual reports on complaints or disciplinary actions against animal chiropractors to help ensure public safety and professional standards.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Expanding access to animal chiropractic care—when appropriately integrated with veterinary medicine—can improve welfare outcomes for pets and working animals by offering non-invasive pain management options, especially for chronic musculoskeletal conditions where traditional veterinary options are limited or undesirable to owners.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(b) and (9)Mandating continuing education (30 hours/3 years), renewal requirements, and fee funding supports ongoing competency and accountability, reducing long-term risk of skill degradation or unsafe practice patterns.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(c), (3)(b), and (4)Requiring recordkeeping and providing emergency vet contact information enhances continuity of care and enables timely intervention if complications arise—reducing the chance that owners delay seeking veterinary care.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(6) and (10)Liability immunity for good-faith animal cruelty reporting may encourage more widespread reporting by non-veterinary professionals who observe signs of abuse during routine care, potentially increasing early detection of cruelty cases.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(9)Granting rulemaking authority to the Department of Health and requiring annual reporting to the Veterinary Board of Governors creates a framework for interagency coordination and oversight, though actual effectiveness depends on funding and enforcement capacity.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(13) and (12)
Potential Concerns (5)
Limiting imaging to reviewing existing reports only—without authority to order or perform X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound—may delay or obscure diagnosis of serious conditions (e.g., fractures, spinal cord compression), especially in emergency or complex cases where imaging is critical for differential diagnosis.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(a)Requiring referral to veterinarians for non-chiropractic issues and providing emergency vet contact information is necessary but may be insufficient to prevent mismanagement of serious conditions—chiropractors lack training to recognize red-flag symptoms requiring immediate veterinary intervention, increasing risk of harm if owners rely solely on chiropractic care.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(c) and (10)Civil and criminal liability immunity for good-faith animal cruelty reporting is well-intentioned, but the bill does not require or incentivize reporting of *neglect* (e.g., chronic pain, poor body condition, untreated lameness) that may not rise to criminal cruelty but still harms animals—chiropractors may lack training to identify subclinical neglect, reducing early intervention.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(7)(a) and (9)Accepting certifications from private trade associations (e.g., AVCA, IVCA) without requiring state oversight of curriculum quality or competency assessment creates variability in training standards and may allow practitioners with substandard training to practice.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b)(ii)The 210-hour training requirement may be financially and logistically prohibitive for many current chiropractors—especially solo practitioners, older practitioners, or those in rural areas—limiting access to the new endorsement and potentially consolidating the service among wealthier or urban-based clinics.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b)(i)
Who Is Most Affected
Pet owners who seek alternative or complementary care for pets with chronic pain (e.g., older dogs with arthritis) may gain access to more affordable, less invasive options—but may also be at higher risk if chiropractors miss underlying pathology or delay veterinary diagnosis.
Chiropractors who complete the 210-hour training and obtain the endorsement may expand their service offerings and revenue streams, especially in urban markets with high demand for integrative animal care—but those unable to afford or complete training (e.g., older, rural, or financially constrained practitioners) may be left behind.
Veterinarians gain a formal role in care coordination and retain legal responsibility for non-chiropractic treatment, but may face increased administrative burden and potential competition if clients bypass veterinary clinics for chiropractic-only care.
State agencies (DOH and Veterinary Board) gain new regulatory responsibilities and interagency coordination opportunities, but success depends on adequate staffing and funding—currently unspecified in the bill.
Animal welfare organizations and shelters may benefit from increased reporting of neglect or abuse by trained professionals—but the bill does not mandate reporting of subclinical neglect, limiting broader welfare impact.