Bill > SB613

This bill modifies Texas veterinary medicine regulations, focusing on preventing undue corporate influence over veterinary practices. It introduces new definitions for "affiliate" and "business entity," and significantly restricts how non-veterinarian entities can interact with veterinary practices. The bill prohibits business entities without licensed veterinarian owners from controlling or exploiting veterinary services, including limiting their ability to determine veterinarian compensation, patient load, treatment protocols, and professional judgment. It specifically targets private equity firms by preventing them from including contract provisions that restrict a veterinarian's ability to compete or comment on care quality. The bill increases civil penalties for violations from $1,000 to $5,000 per day, allows attorneys to recover legal fees in enforcement actions, and requires the veterinary board to provide evidence of criminal offenses to prosecutors. These changes aim to protect veterinarians' professional autonomy and ensure that medical decisions are made primarily by licensed professionals rather than business interests. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to new and renewed contracts from that date forward.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB613