Florida SB 1050: Veterinary Prescription Disclosure

Bill Text

1050 
Veterinary Prescription Disclosure 
2026-01-05T03:53:52Z 
Requiring a veterinarian or authorized member of veterinary staff to inform a client of the right to receive a written prescription to be filled at a pharmacy of the client’s choice or the option to have the prescription filled at the veterinary establishment; requiring that the disclosure include an acknowledgement signed by the client; providing that such acknowledgement be documented in the patient’s medical records, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 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.