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CaliforniaAB 5162025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants: scope of practice.

Sponsored By: Ash Kalra (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Broader duties for vet techs and assistants

Registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) and veterinary assistants can do more animal care tasks. They must work under a California‑licensed or authorized veterinarian and cannot do anything other laws ban. In public or private shelters, humane societies, and SPCAs, they can give care under a direct, written, or phone order from a veterinarian. A veterinarian’s order can set intake and monitoring times; treatment steps for common issues; disease and contamination controls; pain control; how and when to communicate; and euthanasia criteria for medical cases.

Vet techs can buy euthanasia drug

RVTs can apply to the DEA for registration to buy sodium pentobarbital used for euthanasia. They do not need a veterinarian’s separate authorization for that application. Purchase and use must follow federal rules and state euthanasia law.

Vet techs can do dental work

RVTs can perform dental care, including tooth extractions, when supervised by a licensed or authorized veterinarian. Other legal limits still apply.

Vet techs can start care for vaccines

RVTs can act for their supervising veterinarian to set the veterinarian‑client‑patient relationship. This is only for preventive vaccines or medicines to control or prevent internal or external parasites. They must follow the conditions in state law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ash Kalra

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Dave Cortese

    Democratic • Senate

  • Joe Patterson

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 233 • No: 0

House vote • 9/3/2025

Item 118 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 77 • No: 0

Senate vote • 9/2/2025

Item 208 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 40 • No: 0

legislature vote • 6/9/2025

Vote in CS42

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 5/1/2025

Item 182 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 76 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/23/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 15 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/1/2025

Vote in CX33

Yes: 17 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 371, Statutes of 2025.

    10/6/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/6/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

    9/9/2025legislature

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2876.).

    9/3/2025House

  5. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

    9/2/2025House

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2413.).

    9/2/2025Senate

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    6/24/2025Senate

  8. From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

    6/23/2025Senate

  9. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    6/16/2025Senate

  10. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    6/9/2025Senate

  11. Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

    5/14/2025Senate

  12. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    5/1/2025Senate

  13. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1386.)

    5/1/2025House

  14. Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

    4/24/2025House

  15. From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 23).

    4/23/2025House

  16. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/1/2025House

  17. Referred to Com. on B. & P.

    2/24/2025House

  18. From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

    2/11/2025House

  19. Read first time. To print.

    2/10/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/6/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    9/5/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    6/16/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    2/10/2025

    HTML

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