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CaliforniaSB 6022025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Veterinarians: veterinarian-client-patient-relationship.

Sponsored By: Dave Cortese (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Recordkeeping rules for veterinary practices

The law requires vets to keep the signed RVT authorization and risk-assumption statements while the tech acts as their agent and for three years after that relationship ends. Vets must also keep patient medical records, including the required documentation, for at least three years after the animal’s last visit. These rules apply to California-licensed veterinarians who authorize registered vet technicians.

Vet techs can start care for vaccines

The law lets a California-licensed veterinarian authorize a registered vet technician to start the vet–client–patient relationship for preventive vaccines and parasite medicines. The vet must set written protocols that include client history, a physical exam, disqualifying signs, species-specific steps, and emergency plans. At a clinic, the vet is on-site; at shelters or off-site, the vet is nearby or reachable by phone, and the tech carries emergency equipment and drugs. Before care, the tech tells the client the vet’s name and license number and records the client’s OK; the vet signs an authorization and accepts responsibility except for willful cruelty, gross negligence, or gross unprofessional conduct by the tech. A private animal shelter means a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on animal care and adoption; a veterinarian means a California-licensed vet.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dave Cortese

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 190 • No: 0

Senate vote • 8/25/2025

Item 275 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 7/17/2025

Item 138 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 75 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/9/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 15 • No: 0

legislature vote • 6/24/2025

Vote in CX33

Yes: 16 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/8/2025

Item 141 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 36 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/21/2025

Vote in CS42

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 589, Statutes of 2025.

    10/10/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/10/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.

    9/2/2025legislature

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2253.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

    8/25/2025Senate

  5. Ordered to special consent calendar.

    8/21/2025Senate

  6. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

    7/17/2025Senate

  7. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 2595.) Ordered to the Senate.

    7/17/2025House

  8. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

    7/10/2025House

  9. From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (July 9).

    7/9/2025House

  10. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    6/24/2025House

  11. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

    6/18/2025House

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

    5/19/2025House

  13. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

    5/8/2025House

  14. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 1051.) Ordered to the Assembly.

    5/8/2025Senate

  15. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

    5/6/2025Senate

  16. From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.

    5/5/2025Senate

  17. Set for hearing May 5.

    4/25/2025Senate

  18. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 809.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/21/2025Senate

  19. Set for hearing April 21.

    3/18/2025Senate

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

    3/5/2025Senate

  21. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

    2/21/2025Senate

  22. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    2/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/10/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    8/27/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    6/18/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    2/20/2025

    HTML

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