Florida HB 921: Animal Cruelty

Bill Text

HB 921 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb921-00
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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to animal cruelty; amending s. 2
474.214, F.S.; providing that failure to report 3
suspected animal cruelty is grounds for certain 4
disciplinary actions; amending s. 474.2165, F.S.; 5
clarifying that the authorization to furnish medical 6
records related to veterinary medical services to 7
certain parties under certain circumstances includes, 8
but is not limited to, instances where a veterinarian 9
suspects animal cruelty; creating s. 828.124, F.S.; 10
defining terms; requiring certain individuals to 11
report incidents of animal cruelty to certain 12
officials; requiring that a veterinarian, veterinary 13
technician, or other animal treatment provider 14
employee who makes a good faith report of animal 15
cruelty to certain officials be held harmless from 16
certain liability, disciplinary action, and 17
retaliation; providing penalties for certain 18
veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or animal 19
treatment provider employees or volunteers who 20
knowingly alter or destroy a medical record for the 21
purpose of concealing animal cruelty; providing 22
construction; providing an effective date. 23
24
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 25

HB 921 2026

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Section 1. Paragraph (qq) is added to subsection (1) of 27
section 474.214, Florida Statutes, to read: 28
474.214 Disciplinary proceedings.— 29
(1) The following acts shall constitute grounds for which 30
the disciplinary actions in subsection (2) may be taken: 31
(qq) Failing to report suspected animal cruelty to the 32
proper authorities pursuant to s. 828.124. 33
Section 2. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section 34
474.2165, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 35
474.2165 Ownership and control of veterinary medical 36
patient records; report or copies of records to be furnished.— 37
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, such 38
records may not be furnished to, and the medical condition of a 39
patient may not be discussed with, any person other than the 40
client or the client's legal representative or other 41
veterinarians involved in the care or treatment of the patient, 42
except upon written authorization of the client. However, such 43
records may be furnished without written authorization under the 44
following circumstances: 45
(d) In any criminal action or situation where a 46
veterinarian suspects a criminal violation, including, but not 47
limited to, animal cruelty. If a criminal violation, including 48
but not limited to animal cruelty as defined in s. 828.124, is 49
suspected, a veterinarian may, without notice to or 50

HB 921 2026

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authorization from the client, report the violation to a law 51
enforcement officer, an animal control officer who is certified 52
pursuant to s. 828.27(4)(a), or an agent appointed under s. 53
828.03. However, if a suspected violation occurs at a commercial 54
food-producing animal operation on land classified as 55
agricultural under s. 193.461, the veterinarian must provide 56
notice to the client or the client's legal representative before 57
reporting the suspected violation to an officer or agent under 58
this paragraph. The report may not include written medical 59
records except upon the issuance of an order from a court of 60
competent jurisdiction. 61
Section 3. Section 828.124, Florida Statutes, is created 62
to read: 63
828.124 Reporting animal cruelty; medical records.— 64
(1) As used in this section, the term: 65
(a) "Animal cruelty" means any act or omission that 66
constitutes a violation of s. 828.12, s. 828.122, s. 828.126, or 67
s. 828.13. 68
(b) "Animal treatment provider" includes: 69
1. Any animal care facility, hospital, mobile service or 70
clinic, or shelter; 71
2. A private veterinary practice; 72
3. A college of veterinary medicine or veterinary 73
technology program; 74
4. A specialized veterinary hospital; or 75

HB 921 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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5. Any place dogs or cats are seen for any kind of 76
treatment. 77
(c) "Good faith report" means a report of animal cruelty 78
which is made by a person without malice or consideration of 79
personal benefit who has probable cause to believe such a report 80
is true. 81
(2) All of the following individuals must report 82
suspected, both past or ongoing, incidents of animal cruelty to 83
a local law enforcement officer, an animal control officer 84
certified pursuant to s. 8