Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1050
By Senator Calatayud
38-01627A-26 20261050__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to veterinary prescription disclosure;
3 creating s. 474.224, F.S.; requiring a veterinarian or
4 authorized member of veterinary staff to inform a
5 client of the right to receive a written prescription
6 to be filled at a pharmacy of the client’s choice or
7 the option to have the prescription filled at the
8 veterinary establishment; defining the term “written
9 prescription”; requiring that such disclosure be made
10 in specified manners; requiring that the disclosure
11 include an acknowledgement signed by the client;
12 providing requirements for the acknowledgement;
13 providing that such acknowledgement be documented in
14 the patient’s medical records; providing that such
15 acknowledgement may not make certain statements,
16 notifications, warnings, or assumptions; requiring a
17 veterinary establishment to post a specified sign in a
18 certain area; providing applicability; providing an
19 effective date.
20
21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23 Section 1. Section 474.224, Florida Statutes, is created to
24 read:
25 474.224 Veterinary prescription disclosure.—
26 (1)(a) Before dispensing a prescription medication, a
27 licensed veterinarian or an authorized member of the veterinary
28 staff must clearly inform a client of:
29 1. The client’s right to receive a written prescription for
30 the medication that can be filled at the pharmacy of the
31 client’s choice.
32 2. If the veterinary establishment is able to fill the
33 prescription, the option to have the prescription filled at the
34 veterinary establishment.
35
36 For purposes of this chapter, “written prescription” includes
37 paper prescriptions delivered via manual transmission or
38 electronic prescriptions delivered via direct transmission to a
39 pharmacy.
40 (b) Each disclosure required under this subsection shall be
41 made:
42 1. Verbally, if the consultation with the client is in
43 person; or
44 2. Electronically, if the consultation with the client is
45 through veterinary telehealth.
46 (c) The option chosen by the client under paragraph (a)
47 must be documented by the veterinarian or an authorized member
48 of the veterinary staff with a one-time acknowledgement that is
49 signed by the client and that states that the client is aware of
50 the options in paragraph (a).
51 1. The acknowledgement must be in substantially the
52 following form:
53
54 ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ABILITY TO
55 RECEIVE WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION
56 I, ...(name of client)..., understand the veterinary client’s
57 right to receive a written prescription for medication that can
58 be filled by the pharmacy of my choice or my veterinarian, as
59 provided in s. 474.224, Florida Statutes.
60
61 Signature:...(signature of applicant)...Date:...(date)...
62
63 2. An acknowledgment signed by a client under this section
64 shall be documented in the patient’s medical record.
65 3. An acknowledgement under this section may not make a
66 statement, notification, warning, or assumption regarding the
67 efficacy or safety of filling prescriptions through an outside
68 pharmacy.
69 (d) A veterinary establishment shall post a clear and
70 conspicuous sign near the point of sale or where checkout occurs
71 which substantially states the following:
72
73 FLORIDA LAW GIVES THE VETERINARY CLIENT THE OPTION TO:
74 1. RECEIVE A WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICATION
75 THAT CAN BE FILLED AT THE PHARMACY OF YOUR CHOICE; OR
76 2. HAVE YOUR PRESCRIPTION FILLED AT THE
77 VETERINARY ESTABLISHMENT, IF THE VETERINARY
78 ESTABLISHMENT IS ABLE TO FILL THE PRESCRIPTION.
79
80 (2) This section does not apply if:
81 (a) Immediate dispensing of medication is necessary to
82 preserve life or prevent suffering; or
83 (b) The prescription is for a controlled substance, the
84 dispensing of which is restricted by federal or state law.
85 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.