SB185 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy PriceSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Veterinary medicine; veterinarian-client-patient relationship further provided; refilling prescription regulations; relationship shared among a location, provided

Summary

SB185 requires a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship to prescribe or dispense medicines, makes that relationship shareable among all veterinarians at the same location, and sets a 12-month limit on prescription refills.

What This Bill Does

It would prohibit veterinarians from prescribing or dispensing medications without a valid VCPR. It would allow the VCPR established with one veterinarian at a location to be recognized by other veterinarians practicing there. It defines key terms and imposes a 12-month maximum for refilling prescriptions, with rules for when a new VCPR is needed (such as a new medical problem or dosage changes) and that telemedicine counts toward establishing a VCPR.

Who It Affects

• Pet owners and their animals, who would need a valid VCPR to obtain medicines and may experience changes in how refills are managed.
• Veterinarians, veterinary staff, and clinics, who must establish and manage VCPRs, share them within a location, keep medical records, and follow refill and notification rules.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits veterinarians from prescribing or dispensing medications without a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).
• A VCPR created with one veterinarian at a location is shared with all other veterinarians practicing at the same location; the relationship remains with the establishing veterinarian and is valid for others in the practice premises where patient records are kept.
• Defines terms such as veterinarian-client-patient relationship, client, patient, and animal.
• Allows a prescription to be refilled for 12 months after the initial prescription unless medically prohibited or otherwise restricted by law or rule.
• A new veterinarian-client-patient relationship must be established for new medical problems; if a different veterinarian in the same practice changes the prescription, a new VCPR is required.
• Telephonic, electronic, or other means of providing veterinary services count toward establishing the VCPR and require licensure in this state.
• If a patient is hospitalized and treatment changes, those changes must be communicated to the client.
• Includes nonsubstantive technical revisions to update the code language to current style.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Occupational Licensing Boards