Florida Senate - 2026 SB 796
By Senator Bradley
6-00241A-26 2026796__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to veterinary medicine; providing a
3 short title; amending s. 474.201, F.S.; revising
4 legislative findings, intent, and purpose; amending s.
5 474.202, F.S.; defining terms; amending s. 474.2021,
6 F.S.; increasing the amount of time for which
7 prescriptions based solely on a veterinary telehealth
8 evaluation may be issued for certain drugs; amending
9 s. 474.203, F.S.; revising the applicability of
10 certain exemptions; amending s. 474.204, F.S.;
11 revising the membership of the Board of Veterinary
12 Medicine; creating s. 474.2126, F.S.; providing
13 requirements for veterinary professional associates,
14 veterinary technicians, and veterinary technologists
15 to receive certificates of registration from the
16 Department of Business and Professional Regulation;
17 requiring the department to make a list of veterinary
18 professional associate, veterinary technician, and
19 veterinary technologist registrants publicly available
20 on its website; providing registration eligibility for
21 certain individuals; authorizing the department to
22 suspend the registration of a veterinary professional
23 associate, veterinary technician, or veterinary
24 technologist upon a certain determination by the Board
25 of Veterinary Medicine; authorizing the department to
26 rescind the registration of a veterinary professional
27 associate, veterinary technician, or veterinary
28 technologist under certain circumstances; prohibiting
29 a person from holding himself or herself out as a
30 veterinary professional associate, veterinary
31 technician, or veterinary technologist under certain
32 circumstances; authorizing a registered veterinary
33 technician or veterinary technologist to take certain
34 actions as delegated under the responsible supervision
35 of a licensed veterinarian or registered veterinary
36 professional associate; prohibiting a registered
37 veterinary technician or veterinary technologist from
38 taking certain actions; authorizing a registered
39 veterinary professional associate to engage in the
40 practice of veterinary medicine under certain
41 circumstances; prohibiting a registered veterinary
42 professional associate from taking certain actions;
43 authorizing a person who is not registered as a
44 veterinary professional associate, veterinary
45 technician, or veterinary technologist to take certain
46 actions only while under the immediate supervision of
47 specified persons; providing construction; authorizing
48 a supervising veterinarian to delegate certain tasks
49 to specified persons; providing that a supervising
50 licensed veterinarian is liable for any acts or
51 omissions by certain persons under his or her
52 supervision and control; amending s. 828.30, F.S.;
53 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
54 providing an effective date.
55
56 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
57
58 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Veterinary
59 Workforce Innovation Act.”
60 Section 2. Section 474.201, Florida Statutes, is amended to
61 read:
62 474.201 Legislative findings, intent, and purpose.—
63 (1) The Legislature finds that the practice of veterinary
64 medicine is potentially dangerous to the public health and
65 safety if conducted by incompetent and unlicensed practitioners.
66 The legislative purpose in enacting this chapter is to ensure
67 that every veterinarian practicing in this state meet minimum
68 requirements for safe practice. It is the legislative intent
69 that veterinarians who are not normally competent or who
70 otherwise present a danger to the public must shall be
71 disciplined or prohibited from practicing in this state.
72 (2) The Legislature finds that the practice of educated,
73 trained, and experienced veterinary professional associates,
74 veterinary technicians, and veterinary technologists will
75 increase consumer access to high-quality veterinary medical
76 services at a reasonable cost to consumers, while also
77 increasing the efficiency of the practice of veterinary medicine
78 in this state.
79 Section 3. Present subsection (14) of section 474.202,
80 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (17), and a new
81 subsection (14) and subsections (15) and (16) are added to that
82 section, to read:
83 474.202 Definitions.—As used in this chapter:
84 (14) “Veterinary professional associate” means an
85 individual who has graduated with a master’s degree or the
86 equivalent in veterinary clinical care from an accredited
87 institution and who meets the requirements to be registered by
88 the department.
89 (15) “Veterinary technician” or “veterinary technologist”
90 means an individual who has graduated from an accredited
91 veterinary technology program and who meets the requirements to
92 be registered by the department. The term also includes a
93 veterinary nurse.
94 (16) “Veterinary technology” includes, with respect to
95 animals, the provision of medical care, monitoring, and
96 treatment of a veterinary patient by a person who is a
97 registered veterinary technician or technologist working under
98 supervision of a licensed veterinarian as authorized under this
99 chapter. The term includes veterinary nursing.
100 Section 4. Subsection (4) of section 474.2021, Florida
101 Statutes, is amended to read:
102 474.2021 Veterinary telehealth.—
103 (4) A veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth:
104 (a) May not engage in the practice of veterinary telehealth
105 unless it is within the context of a veterinarian/client/patient
106 relationship;
107 (b) Shall practice in a manner consistent with his or her
108 scope of practice and the prevailing professional standard of
109 practice for a veterinarian who provides in-person veterinary
110 services to patients in this state and shall employ sound,
111 professional judgment to determine whether using veterinary
112 telehealth is an appropriate method for delivering medical
113 advice or treatment to the patient;
114 (c) May use veterinary telehealth to perform an initial
115 patient evaluation to establish the veterinarian/client/patient
116 relationship if the evaluation is conducted using synchronous,
117 audiovisual communication. The evaluation may not be performed
118 using audio-only communications, text messaging, questionnaires,
119 chatbots, or other similar means. If a veterinarian practicing
120 telehealth conducts a patient evaluation sufficient to diagnose
121 and treat the patient, the veterinarian is not required to
122 research a patient’s medical history or conduct a physical
123 examination of the patient before using veterinary telehealth to
124 provide a veterinary health care service to the patient;
125 (d) If the initial patient evaluation is performed using
126 veterinary telehealth, must provide the client with a statement
127 containing the veterinarian’s name, license number, and contact
128 information and the contact information for at least one
129 physical veterinary clinic in the vicinity of the patient’s
130 location and instructions for how to receive patient follow-up
131 care or assistance if the veterinarian and client are unable to
132 communicate because of a technological or equipment failure or
133 if there is an adverse reaction to treatment, and inform the
134 client that, if medication is prescribed, the client may obtain
135 a prescription that may be filled at the pharmacy of his or her
136 choice. The veterinarian shall obtain from the client a signed
137 and dated statement indicating the client has received the
138 required information before practicing veterinary telehealth;
139 (e) Shall prescribe all drugs and medications in accordance
140 with all federal and state laws and the following requirements:
141 1. A veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth may
142 order, prescribe, or make available medicinal drugs or drugs
143 specifically approved for use in animals by the United States
144 Food and Drug Administration, the use of which conforms to the
145 approved labeling. Prescriptions based solely on a telehealth
146 evaluation may be issued for up to 6 months 1 month for products
147 labeled solely for flea and tick control and up to 30 14 days of
148 treatment for other animal drugs. Prescriptions based solely on
149 a telehealth evaluation may not be renewed without an in-person
150 examination.
151 2. A veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth may not
152 order, prescribe, or make available medicinal drugs or drugs as
153 defined in s. 465.003 approved by the United States Food and
154 Drug Administration for human use or compounded antibacterial,
155 antifungal, antiviral, or antiparasitic medications, unless the
156 veterinarian has conducted an in-person physical examination of
157 the animal or made medically appropriate and timely visits to
158 the premises where the animal is kept.
159 3. A veterinarian may not use veterinary telehealth to
160 prescribe a controlled substance as defined in chapter 893
161 unless the veterinarian has conducted an in-person physical
162 examination of the animal or made medically appropriate and
163 timely visits within the past year to the premises where the
164 animal is kept.
165 4. A veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth may not
166 prescribe a drug or other medication for use on a horse engaged
167 in racing or training at a facility under the jurisdiction of
168 the Florida Gaming Control Commission or on a horse that is a
169 covered horse as defined in the federal Horseracing Integrity
170 and Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 3051 et seq.;
171 (f) Shall be familiar with available veterinary resources,
172 including emergency resources, near the patient’s location and
173 be able to provide the client with a list of nearby
174 veterinarians who may be able to see the patient in person upon
175 the request of the client;
176 (g) Shall keep, maintain, and make available a summary of
177 the patient record as provided in s. 474.2165; and
178 (h) May not use veterinary telehealth to issue an
179 international or interstate travel certificate or a certificate
180 of veterinary inspection.
181 Section 5. Subsection (3), paragraph (a) of subsection (5),
182 and subsection (7) of section 474.203, Florida Statutes, are
183 amended to read:
184 474.203 Exemptions.—This chapter does not apply to:
185 (3) A student in a school or college of veterinary medicine
186 or a program for veterinary technology while in the performance
187 of duties assigned by her or his instructor or when working as a
188 preceptor under the immediate supervision of a licensee, if such
189 preceptorship is required for graduation from an accredited
190 school or college of veterinary medicine or program for
191 veterinary technology. The licensed veterinarian is responsible
192 for all acts performed by a preceptor under her or his
193 supervision.
194 (5)(a) Any person, or the person’s regular employee,
195 administering to the ills or injuries of her or his own animals,
196 including, but not limited to, castration, spaying, and
197 dehorning of herd animals, unless title is transferred or
198 employment provided for the purpose of circumventing this law.
199 This exemption does not apply to any person licensed as a
200 veterinarian or registered as a veterinary professional
201 associate, veterinary technician, or veterinary technologist in
202 another state or foreign jurisdiction and practicing temporarily
203 in this state. However, except as provided in s. 474.2126 or s.
204 828.30, only a veterinarian may immunize or treat an animal for
205 diseases that are communicable to humans and that are of public
206 health significance.
207 (7) Any veterinary aide, nurse, laboratory technician,
208 preceptor, or assistant; any registered veterinary professional
209 associate, veterinary technician, or veterinary technologist,
210 registered pursuant to s. 474.2126; or other employee of a
211 licensed veterinarian who administers medication or who renders
212 auxiliary or supporting assistance under the responsible
213 supervision of a licensed veterinarian, including those tasks
214 identified by rule of the board requiring immediate supervision,
215 provided that a registered veterinary professional associate,
216 veterinary technician, or veterinary technologist is subject to
217 s. 474.2126. However, the licensed veterinarian is responsible
218 for all such acts performed under this subsection by persons
219 under her or his supervision.
220
221 For the purposes of chapters 465 and 893, persons exempt
222 pursuant to subsection (1), subsection (2), or subsection (4)
223 are deemed to be duly licensed practitioners authorized by the
224 laws of this state to prescribe drugs or medicinal supplies.
225 Section 6. Section 474.204, Florida Statutes, is amended to
226 read:
227 474.204 Board of Veterinary Medicine.—
228 (1) To carry out the provisions of this chapter, there is
229 created within the department the Board of Veterinary Medicine
230 composed consisting of all of the following seven members, who
231 shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by
232 the Senate:.
233 (a)(2) Five members of the board who are shall be licensed
234 veterinarians.
235 (b) Two members who are registered with the department as a
236 veterinary professional associate, veterinary technician, or
237 veterinary technologist and who have been employed as such for
238 at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of appointment
239 to the board.
240 (c) Two members of the board who are shall be laypersons
241 who are not and have never been veterinarians or members of any
242 closely related profession or occupation.
243 (2)(3) All provisions of chapter 455 relating to activities
244 of regulatory boards shall apply.
245 Section 7. Section 474.2126, Florida Statutes, is created
246 to read:
247 474.2126 Veterinary professional associates, veterinary
248 technicians, and veterinary technologists; registration.—
249 (1) REGISTRATION.—
250 (a) A veterinary professional associate, veterinary
251 technician, or veterinary technologist may apply to the
252 department for registration by submitting a form prescribed by
253 the board. The department shall consider for registration each
254 qualified veterinary professional associate, veterinary
255 technician, or veterinary technologist, or applicant who the
256 department verifies has submitted a completed application and
257 meets the applicable requirements of this subsection.
258 (b) The department shall issue a certificate of
259 registration to each veterinary professional associate,
260 veterinary technician, or veterinary technologist applicant who
261 the department verifies has graduated from the relevant
262 accredited program and received a passing score on the relevant
263 professional national competency examination approved by the
264 board.
265 (c) The department shall issue a certificate of
266 registration to an veterinary technician who does not meet the
267 requirements of paragraph (b), if he or she:
268 1. Submits a notarized document from an employer who is a
269 licensed veterinarian certifying that as of January 1, 2000, the
270 applicant possesses 5 or more years of practical experience
271 performing the tasks of a veterinary technician in this state;
272 2. Provides proof of graduation from a veterinary
273 technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical
274 Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and
275 Activities before January 1, 2000; and
276 3. Is in good standing with the appropriate Florida
277 certifying body, including the Florida Veterinary Technician
278 Association or the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, is
279 eligible to apply for registration.
280 (d) The department shall make the list of registrants
281 available to the public on its website.
282 (e) The department may suspend the registration of any
283 veterinary professional associate, veterinary technician, or
284 veterinary technologist who the board determines has caused
285 serious harm to an animal due to negligence, incompetence, or
286 misconduct related to duties performed under this section and in
287 a manner inconsistent with the supervising veterinarian’s
288 specific direction, until which time as the registrant has
289 completed remedial training or education directed by the board.
290 (f) The department may rescind the registration of any
291 veterinary professional associate, veterinary technician, or
292 veterinary technologist who is convicted of animal cruelty or
293 animal fighting under s. 828.12 or s. 828.122.
294 (2) PROHIBITION.—An individual may not hold himself or
295 herself out as a registered veterinary professional associate,
296 veterinary technician, or veterinary technologist or use the
297 abbreviation RVT, RVTg, VT, VPA, or MVCC or in any other way
298 represent himself or herself as a veterinary professional
299 associate, veterinary technician, or veterinary technologist
300 unless he or she has a valid certificate of registration from
301 the department.
302 (3) DUTIES AND ACTIONS OF A REGISTERED VETERINARY
303 TECHNICIAN OR VETERINARY TECHNOLOGIST.—
304 (a) Unless otherwise prohibited by this section or other
305 state or federal law, a registered veterinary technician or
306 veterinary technologist may perform duties or actions in which
307 he or she is competent and has the necessary training, current
308 knowledge, and experience to provide, as delegated under the
309 responsible supervision, as defined in s. 474.202, of a licensed
310 veterinarian or registered veterinary professional associate. In
311 addition to other duties or actions approved by the supervising
312 veterinarian, a registered veterinary technician or veterinary
313 technologist may perform all the following actions under the
314 responsible supervision, as defined in s. 474.202, of a licensed
315 veterinarian or a veterinary professional associate as delegated
316 by a licensed veterinarian:
317 1. Administer medical drugs as defined in chapter 465
318 prescribed for a patient by the supervising veterinarian, or
319 provide treatments, as directed;
320 2. Prepare, record, and administer vaccinations and
321 microchips; or
322 3. Perform humane euthanasia of animals and prepare, log,
323 and administer controlled substances for the purpose of
324 analgesia, anesthesia, or humane euthanasia, as delegated by a
325 licensed veterinarian and performed under responsible
326 supervision.
327 (b) Except as otherwise authorized by this section or other
328 state law, a registered veterinary technician or veterinary
329 technologist may not perform any of the following actions:
330 1. Make or provide any diagnosis or prognosis;
331 2. Perform any surgery, except that a registered veterinary
332 technician or registered veterinary technologist may perform
333 suturing or stapling of skin lacerations, gingival incisions, or
334 existing surgical incisions or tooth extraction procedures; or
335 3. Prescribe any medical drugs as defined in chapter 465 or
336 controlled substances as defined in chapter 893.
337 (4) DUTIES AND ACTIONS OF A REGISTERED VETERINARY
338 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATE.—
339 (a) Unless otherwise prohibited by this section or other
340 state or federal law, a registered veterinary professional
341 associate may engage in the practice of veterinary medicine as
342 defined in s. 474.202 or veterinary medicine as defined in s.
343 474.202, to the extent that he or she is competent and has the
344 necessary training, current knowledge, and experience to provide
345 such care, as delegated under the responsible supervision, as
346 defined in s. 474.202, of a licensed veterinarian.
347 (b) A registered veterinary professional associate may not
348 do any of the following:
349 1. Prescribe a controlled substance listed in s. 893.03,
350 except that a registered veterinary professional associate may
351 perform humane euthanasia and prepare, log, and administer
352 controlled substances for the purpose of analgesia, anesthesia,
353 or humane euthanasia, as delegated by a licensed veterinarian
354 and performed under responsible supervision.
355 2. Perform a surgical procedure, except that a veterinary
356 professional associate may perform the following surgical
357 procedures:
358 a. Orchiectomy;
359 b. Veterinary dental surgery; or
360 c. Veterinary suturing or stapling of skin lacerations,
361 gingival incisions, or existing surgical incisions.
362 (5) ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION.—An individual who is not
363 registered with the state as a veterinary professional
364 associate, veterinary technician, or veterinary technologist may
365 administer medication prescribed by the supervising veterinarian
366 for a patient or render auxiliary or supporting assistance only
367 under the immediate supervision, as defined in s. 474.202, of a
368 licensed veterinarian or under the immediate supervision of a
369 registered veterinary professional associate, veterinary
370 technician, or veterinary technologist who is acting under the
371 responsible supervision of a licensed veterinarian or his or her
372 delegee as defined in s. 474.202, as provided for in subsection
373 (6). This section does not prohibit an individual from rendering
374 lifesaving aid and treatment to an animal in the absence of a
375 veterinarian if the animal is in a life-threatening condition
376 and requires immediate treatment to sustain life or prevent
377 further injury.
378 (6) DELEGATION.—Unless otherwise prohibited under this
379 section or other state law or federal law, a supervising
380 licensed veterinarian may in his or her judgment delegate to a
381 registered veterinary professional associate, veterinary
382 technician, or veterinary technologist the responsibility of
383 supervising a task or tasks performed by a veterinary assistant.
384 (7) LIABILITY.—A supervising licensed veterinarian is
385 liable for any acts or omissions of the registered veterinary
386 professional associate, veterinary technician, or veterinary
387 technologist acting under the licensed veterinarian’s
388 supervision and control.
389 Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
390 (3) of section 828.30, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
391 828.30 Rabies vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets.—
392 (1)(a) All dogs, cats, and ferrets 4 months of age or older
393 must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian or a person
394 authorized under paragraph (b) or s. 474.2126 against rabies
395 with a vaccine that is licensed by the United States Department
396 of Agriculture for use in those species.
397 (3) Upon vaccination against rabies, the licensed
398 veterinarian shall provide the animal’s owner and the animal
399 control authority with a rabies vaccination certificate. Each
400 animal control authority and veterinarian shall use the “Rabies
401 Vaccination Certificate” of the National Association of State
402 Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) or an equivalent form
403 approved by the local government that contains all the
404 information required by the NASPHV Rabies Vaccination
405 Certificate. The veterinarian who administers the rabies
406 vaccination or who supervises the administration of the rabies
407 vaccination as provided in paragraph (1)(b) or s. 474.2126 to an
408 animal as authorized under this section may affix his or her
409 signature stamp in lieu of an actual signature.
410 Section 9. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.