SB874 • 2026

RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: FUKUNAGA, CHANG, FEVELLA, INOUYE, San Buenaventura, Wakai
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE.
Equality Caucus; Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship; Pet Medication; Consumer Prescription Choice Requires veterinarians to provide a written prescription, upon the request of a client, for any animal patient of a client with whom the veterinarian has established an existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship, to be filled at the pharmacy of the client's choosing.
Allows pharmacies licensed in the State to dispense medications prescribed by veterinarians.
Specifies that violators may be subject to disciplinary action by the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine, which may include fines or suspension or revocation of a license.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB874 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB874 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
874 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB874 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB874 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
874 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: SB874 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB874 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
874 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB874 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB874 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
874 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE.

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB874 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB874 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
874 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE.

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-29 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 45-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-29 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 45-26).
2026-04-29 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Grandinetti, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-29 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Fukunaga, Richards, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-28 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-27 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-27 H
Received notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 764).
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 9:15AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-24 S
Senate Conferees Changed: Senator Fukunaga added as Co-Chair. Senator Keohokalole discharged as Co-Chair.
2026-04-23 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 739).
2026-04-23 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Keohokalole Co-Chair; Richards, Awa.
2026-04-23 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).
2026-04-22 H
House Conferees Appointed: Chun, Grandinetti Co-Chairs; Matsumoto.
2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 607).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-10 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
2026-04-10 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2110-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-02 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Tam.
2026-03-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-30 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1489-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-03-25 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Matsumoto.
2026-03-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 03-25-26 9:15AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to AGR, CPC, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 141) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2910) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-02-26 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao.
2026-02-20 S
The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-26-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-02-03 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.
2026-02-03 S
Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2101) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
2026-01-28 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-01-23 S
The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-23 S
Referred to AEN, CPN.
2025-01-21 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-01-17 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE.
Equality Caucus; Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship; Pet Medication; Consumer Prescription Choice
Requires veterinarians to provide a written prescription, upon the request of a client, for any animal patient of a client with whom the veterinarian has established an existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship, to be filled at the pharmacy of the client's choosing. Allows pharmacies licensed in the State to dispense medications prescribed by veterinarians. Specifies that violators may be subject to disciplinary action by the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine, which may include fines or suspension or revocation of a license. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB874

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

874

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO veterinary medicine.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The purpose of this Act is to promote
consumer choice, affordability, and transparency by ensuring that pet owners in
the State have the right to obtain and fill prescriptions for their animals at
a pharmacy of their choice.
�
This Act is intended
to remove barriers to competitive pricing, ensure fair access to veterinary
medications, and enhance trust between veterinarians and their clients.
�
This Act also seeks to protect consumer
rights while maintaining safety and efficacy in the dispensing of pet
medications.
�
Additionally, this Act
supports the integrity of veterinary practice by preserving the focus on medical
care over retail functions and ensuring that veterinarians continue to play a
central role in animal health management.
�

Lastly, this Act furthers the State's commitment to consumer rights,
affordability, and fair market competition by aligning with existing consumer
protection laws and economic policies, such as the statutes against unfair or
deceptive acts and practices, which promote transparency and fairness in
consumer transactions and ensure pet owners, particularly those in rural or
underserved areas, can access medications at reasonable costs while preserving
high standards of veterinary care.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 471, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�471-
�
Requirements for written prescriptions.
�
(a)
�

A veterinarian shall, upon the request of a client, provide a written
prescription for any medication prescribed for the client's animal patient
without requiring the medication to be dispensed directly by the veterinarian.

����
(b)
�
A veterinarian shall inform a client of the client's
right to request a written prescription from the veterinarian and the option to
have it filled at a pharmacy of the client's choice.

����
(c)
�
No veterinarian shall issue a written
prescription without the prior establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient
relationship, which shall require that a veterinarian has conducted a timely
examination of the animal or has made medically appropriate visits to the
premises where the animal is kept.
�
A
veterinarian with an existing veterinarian‑client‑patient
relationship shall also have sufficient knowledge of the animal's health to
make an informed medical judgment and ensure the availability of follow-up care
as needed.

����
(d)
�
A written prescription shall contain all of the
following information:

����
(1)
�
The name and address of the
prescribing veterinarian;

����
(2)
�
The name and species of the animal
patient;

����
(3)
�
The name, strength, and quantity of
the prescribed medication;

����
(4)
�
Directions for use with any
cautionary statements, as needed;

����
(5)
�
The date of issuance; and

����
(6)
�
The veterinarian's signature or
equivalent.

����
(e)
�
No additional fee shall be charged by a
veterinarian for providing a written prescription.

����
(f)
�
Any pharmacy duly licensed in the State may dispense
the medication prescribed by a licensed veterinarian pursuant to this section;
provided that all state and federal certification requirements for handling and
dispensing veterinary pharmaceuticals are met.

����
(g)
�
Any veterinarian who violates or fails to
comply with this section shall be deemed to have engaged in professional
misconduct and may be subject to disciplinary action by the board pursuant to section
471-10, which may include fines, or the suspension or revocation of a license,
or both.

����
(h)
�
For the purposes of this section,
"prescription" means a written order for medication issued by a
veterinarian licensed in the State for the treatment of an animal.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii
Board of Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinarian-Client-Patient
Relationship; Pet Medication; Consumer Prescription Choice

Description:

Requires
veterinarians to provide a written prescription, upon the request of a client,
for any animal patient of a client with whom the veterinarian has established an
existing veterinarian‑client-patient relationship.
�
Allows pharmacies licensed in the State to
dispense medications prescribed by veterinarians.
�
Authorizes the Hawaii Board of Veterinary
Medicine to establish penalties, which may include fines or suspension or
revocation of a license.

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