Bill > H0805

This bill, titled the "Veterinary Workforce Innovation Act," aims to expand access to veterinary services by creating a new category of veterinary professionals called "veterinary professional associates," who will have a master's degree or equivalent in veterinary clinical care and must be registered with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. These associates can practice veterinary medicine under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, with specific limitations on prescribing controlled substances (though they can assist with humane euthanasia and analgesia) and performing surgery, except for certain procedures like spaying, dental surgery, and suturing. The bill also revises legislative findings to acknowledge the value of these associates in increasing efficiency and affordability of veterinary care, extends the duration for which veterinarians can issue prescriptions based solely on a telehealth evaluation for certain drugs from one month to six months for flea and tick control and from 14 days to 30 days for other animal drugs, and clarifies exemptions for individuals administering to their own animals and for veterinary aides. Furthermore, it mandates that the Department of Business and Professional Regulation maintain a public online list of registered veterinary professional associates and grants the department the authority to suspend or rescind their registration under specific circumstances, such as negligence or conviction of animal cruelty. Finally, the bill conforms existing laws regarding rabies vaccinations to include these registered associates and sets an effective date of January 1, 2027.

Business and Industry

Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee (House)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/805