# Alabama SB85: Veterinary medicine; veterinarian-client-patient relationship further specified; scope of practice inside and outside veterinarian-client-patient relationship further defined Alabama SB85, Veterinary medicine; veterinarian-client-patient relationship further specified; scope of practice inside and outside veterinarian-client-patient relationship further defined, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Larry Stutts (Republican); status enacted, last action 2026-04-15 (Enacted) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB85-2026rs - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Alabama SB85 - State: Alabama - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Veterinary medicine; veterinarian-client-patient relationship further specified; scope of practice inside and outside veterinarian-client-patient relationship further defined - Status: enacted - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-15, Enacted - Sponsor: Larry Stutts (Republican) - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: Animals - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (240 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More backup care for animal owners: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, a care relationship stays with the veterinarian who established it but can be shared within the practice. Other Alabama-licensed veterinarians at the same practice premises can use it when the animal's written or electronic records are kept there. During an emergency with… - Animal care relationships need yearly renewal: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, client status requires an in-person agreement with a licensed veterinarian for services. A valid care relationship requires a physical exam within the past 12 months, with more frequent exams when age, health, treatment, or controlled drugs require them. The relationship… - Animal medicines need valid care relationships: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama-licensed veterinarians cannot prescribe or dispense drugs without a valid care relationship. They cannot create that relationship solely to sell drugs. With a valid relationship, prescription refills are limited to one year from the first prescription date. Medica… - Veterinary rules cover more diagnostic work: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, veterinary law defines animals as all living or dead members of the animal kingdom except humans. Collecting blood or other samples to diagnose disease or another condition counts as veterinary medicine. The law removes the prior exception for certain federal and Alabama… - Remote animal advice has firm limits: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, veterinarians serving Alabama clients or animals must hold an Alabama license, even when working remotely elsewhere. Telemedicine requires an existing valid care relationship and cannot establish one. Alabama-licensed veterinarians can offer remote urgency checks when an… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Larry Stutts (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: David Sessions (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Tom Butler (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-08 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1319 | pass | 105 | 0 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 618 | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 620 | pass | 33 | 1 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 619 | pass | 34 | 0 | | ## Actions (26) - 2026-04-15: Enacted (Senate) - 2026-04-09: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-04-09: Delivered to Governor (Senate) - 2026-04-09: Signature Requested (House) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading in Second House (House) - 2026-04-08: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1319 (House) - 2026-04-08: Ready to Enroll (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House) - 2026-03-04: Reported Out of Committee Second House (House) - 2026-02-26: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (House) - 2026-02-26: Pending Committee Action in Second House (House) - 2026-02-25: Third Reading in House of Origin (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry 1st Substitute Offered (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 618 (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Stutts 1st Amendment Offered (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 619 (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 620 (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Engrossed (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry 1st Substitute (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Senate) - 2026-01-15: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Senate) - 2026-01-15: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate) - 2026-01-15: Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Healthcare (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Senate) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB85-int.pdf) - Engrossed: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB85-eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB85-enr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for misuse of personal voter information; created (enacted) - SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 (enacted) - SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require indigent candidates to submit documentation for fee exemption (enacted) - HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for violations provided for (enacted) - SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitation purposes prohibited; redaction of certain information relating to financial tr… (enacted) - SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular (enacted) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB85-int.pdf) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB85-eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB85-enr.pdf) ## Related - [HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB67-2026rs) - [SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB154-2026rs) - [SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require in…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB165-2026rs) - [HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for vio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB317-2026rs) - [SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitatio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB272-2026rs) - [SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB190-2026rs) - [Alabama bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama/bills) - [Alabama state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB85-2026rs (as of 2026-10-19).