The official text specifies that clinics must post a sign near checkout, which was not included in the candidate explanation's 'what_it_does' section but is supported by the source.
Veterinary Prescription Disclosure Law
This Florida law requires veterinarians to tell pet owners they can choose where to fill their animal's medication prescription.
What This Bill Does
Requires a veterinarian or authorized staff member to clearly inform clients about the right to get a written prescription for any pharmacy of their choice.
Asks clinics to offer the option to have prescriptions filled at the veterinary clinic if they are able to do so.
Mandates that veterinarians explain these options verbally during in-person visits or electronically during telehealth appointments.
Requires clients to sign a one-time form acknowledging they understand their choices, which must be saved in the patient's medical record.
Prohibits clinics from making statements about whether outside pharmacies are safe or effective when explaining prescription options.
Who It Names or Affects
Licensed veterinarians and authorized veterinary staff members
Veterinary establishments (clinics) that dispense medication
Pet owners who receive prescriptions for their animals
Terms To Know
Written prescription
A paper or electronic order sent directly to a pharmacy so the client can fill it at any location they choose.
Veterinary telehealth
Medical care provided by a veterinarian through digital methods instead of in person, requiring electronic disclosure of prescription options.
Limits and Unknowns
This law does not apply if giving medication immediately is needed to save an animal's life or stop suffering.
The rules do not cover prescriptions for controlled substances that are restricted by federal or state laws.
Clinics only need to offer the option of filling a prescription on-site if they actually have the ability to fill it.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: This amendment changes a rule to allow prescriptions to be filled specifically at the veterinary clinic where they were written.
The bill now includes language stating that a prescription can be filled at the veterinary establishment.
The official text only shows the new words added and does not show what was removed, so it is unclear if other options for filling prescriptions were taken away.
Without seeing line 21 of the original bill, we cannot explain exactly how this change affects patients or veterinarians beyond adding this specific option.
Plain English: This amendment requires veterinarians in Florida to clearly tell pet owners they can get a written prescription filled at any pharmacy or at the clinic, and it sets rules for how this choice must be explained, signed off on, and posted.
Veterinarians must verbally explain during visits (or electronically for telehealth) that clients have the right to take their medication prescription to a pharmacy of their own choice.
If the clinic can fill prescriptions itself, staff must also tell clients they have the option to get the medicine there instead.
Clients must sign a one-time form acknowledging they understand these options, which is then saved in the pet's medical record without making claims about safety or effectiveness of outside pharmacies.
Clinics are required to post a clear sign near checkout areas stating that Florida law gives clients the option to use an outside pharmacy or fill prescriptions at the clinic.
The amendment text does not specify penalties for veterinarians who fail to follow these new disclosure rules.
It is unclear if this rule applies retroactively to past visits or only to future consultations starting after the law takes effect.
Bill History
2026-05-13The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Chapter No. 2026-77
2026-05-12The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Approved by Governor
2026-05-11The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
2026-02-19Senate
• Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 347 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Substituted for SB 1050 -SJ 347 • Read 2nd time -SJ 347 • Read 3rd time -SJ 347 • CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 347 • Immediately certified -SJ 356
2026-02-19House
• In Messages • Ordered enrolled
2026-02-18Senate
• Received
2026-02-12Senate
• In Messages • Referred to Rules
2026-02-11House
• Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 114, NAYS 0
2026-02-05House
• Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/11/2026)
• Reported out of Commerce Committee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed
2025-12-11House
• Favorable with CS by Commerce Committee
2025-12-04House
• Added to Commerce Committee agenda
2025-11-20House
• Referred to Commerce Committee • Now in Commerce Committee
2025-11-19House
• Reported out of Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed
2025-11-18House
• Favorable with CS by Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
2025-11-10House
• Added to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee agenda
2025-10-14House
• Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Referred to Commerce Committee • Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
2025-10-06House
• Filed
Official Summary Text
Veterinary Prescription Disclosure; Requires veterinarian to inform client of right to receive written prescription or option to have prescription filled at veterinary establishment; specifies certain transmission methods for "written prescriptions"; requires disclosure to include acknowledgement signed by client; requires acknowledgement to include certain information; prohibits certain statements, notifications, warnings, or assumptions; requires posting of certain information; provides requirements therefor; provides exceptions.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED
CS/CS/HB 89 2026 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb89 -02-er
Page 1 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1
An act relating to veterinary prescription disclosure; 2
creating s. 474.224, F.S.; requiring a veterinarian to 3
inform a client of the right to receive a written 4
prescription or the option to have the prescription 5
filled at the veterinary establishment; specifies 6
certain transmission methods for "written 7
prescriptions"; requires the disclosure to include an 8
acknowledgement signed by the client; requires the 9
acknowledgement to include certain information; 10
prohibiting certain statements, notifications, 11
warnings, or assumptions; requiring posting of certain 12
information; providing requirements therefor; 13
providing exceptions; providing an effective date. 14
15
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16
17
Section 1. Section 474.224, Florida Statutes, is created 18
to read: 19
474.224 Veterinary prescription disclosure.— 20
(1)(a) Before dispensing a prescription medication, a 21
licensed veterinarian or an authorized member of the veterinary 22
staff must clearly inform a client of: 23
ENROLLED
CS/CS/HB 89 2026 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb89 -02-er
Page 2 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1. The client's right to receive a written prescription 24
for the medication that can be filled at the pharmacy of the 25
client's choice. 26
2. If the veterinary establishment is able to fill the 27
prescription, the option to have the prescription filled at the 28
veterinary establishment. 29
30
For purposes of this chapter, "written prescription" may include 31
paper prescriptions via manual transmission or electronic 32
prescriptions via direct transmission to a pharmacy. 33
(b) Each disclosure required under this subsection shall 34
be made: 35
1. Verbally, if the consultation with the client is in 36
person; or 37
2. Electronically, if the consultation with the client is 38
through veterinary telehealth. 39
(c) The option chosen by the client under paragraph (a) 40
must be documented by the veterinarian or an authorized member 41
of the veterinary staff with a one-time acknowledgement that is 42
signed by the client and that states that the client is aware of 43
the options in paragraph (a). 44
1. The acknowledgement must be in substantially the 45
following form: 46
47
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ABILITY TO 48
ENROLLED
CS/CS/HB 89 2026 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb89 -02-er
Page 3 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
RECEIVE WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION 49
"I, (name of client), understand the veterinary client's 50
right to receive a written prescription for the medication 51
that can be filled by the pharmacy of my choice or my 52
veterinarian, as provided in s. 474.224, Florida Statutes." 53
54
Signature: (signature of applicant) Date: 55
(date) 56
57
2. An acknowledgment signed by a client under this section 58
shall be documented in the patient's medical record. 59
3. An acknowledgement under this section may not make a 60
statement, notification, warning, or assumption regarding the 61
efficacy or safety of filling prescriptions through an outside 62
pharmacy. 63
(d) A veterinary establishment shall post a clear and 64
conspicuous sign near the point of sale or where checkout occurs 65
which substantially states the following: 66
67
"FLORIDA LAW GIVES THE VETERINARY CLIENT THE OPTION TO: 68
1. RECEIVE A WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICATION THAT CAN 69
BE FILLED AT THE PHARMACY OF YOUR CHOICE; OR 70
2. HAVE YOUR PRESCRIPTION FILLED AT THE VETERINARY 71
ESTABLISHMENT, IF THE VETERINARY ESTABLISHMENT IS ABLE TO 72
FILL THE PRESCRIPTION." 73
ENROLLED
CS/CS/HB 89 2026 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb89 -02-er
Page 4 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
74
(2) This section does not apply if: 75
(a) Immediate dispensing of medication is necessary to 76
preserve life or prevent suffering; or 77
(b) The prescription is for a controlled substance, the 78
dispensing of which is restricted by federal or state law. 79
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 80