# Texas SB 2155: Relating to the regulation of veterinary professionals and facilities by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the temporary administration of the board by the Department of Licensing and Regulation. Texas SB 2155, Relating to the regulation of veterinary professionals and facilities by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the temporary administration of the board by the Department of Licensing and Regulation., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Keith Bell, Brad Buckley, Terry Canales and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (See remarks for effective date) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2155-89R - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Texas SB 2155 - State: Texas - Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session - Title: Relating to the regulation of veterinary professionals and facilities by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the temporary administration of the board by the Department of Licensing and Regulation. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-03-10 - Last action: 2025-06-20, See remarks for effective date - Sponsors: Keith Bell, Brad Buckley, Terry Canales, Lacey Hull, Stan Kitzman, Charles Perry (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Animals, Electronic Information Systems, Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions, Open Records, EMAIL & ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC NOTICE, RECORDS MANAGEMENT, VETERINARIANS, VIDEOCONFERENCING, ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, STATE OFFICE OF, LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF, VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS, STATE BOARD OF - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 9 (551 yes, 87 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Pet owners can receive veterinary refunds: benefit, low. Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas veterinary regulators can order consumer refunds when they find grounds for license denial or discipline. Refunds can be part of a settlement, default order, or board order, alongside or instead of penalties. A refund cannot exceed what the consumer paid for the s… - Regulators can halt unsafe veterinary operations: benefit, low. The board or its executive director can issue stop orders when needed to prevent violations of veterinary law, rules, or orders. In a public health or safety emergency, either can halt an unsafe facility or suspend or revoke a board-issued authorization. Emergency action can occur without advance n… - Veterinary inspections focus on higher risks: benefit, low. The board can inspect covered facilities and business premises during reasonable business hours, copy relevant records, and discipline violations it finds. This authority covers regulated people and those suspected of violating or threatening to violate veterinary laws, rules, or orders. Inspection… - Veterinary businesses must register and pay fees: cost, low. The facility registration law takes effect September 1, 2026; implementing rules are due March 1, 2027. By September 1, 2027, veterinary businesses must register facilities, including those providing remote care, and pay a board-set fee. Each facility must name a medical director: a licensed veteri… - Veterinary facilities face standards and penalties: cost, low. The board must set and enforce veterinary facility rules for cleanliness, safety, patient care, medicine storage, and controlled-drug security. Rules also cover record retention and compliance with state health and safety laws. Standards must fit each facility type, including mobile units not linke… - Veterinarians get licensing and communication changes: mixed, low. With the governor’s approval, the board can make agreements with other states allowing veterinary licensing through reciprocity. License holders no longer face the requirement to report business-address or employer changes within 60 days. Board rules can require applicants and license holders to pr… - Veterinary discipline adds deadlines and deferrals: mixed, low. The board can combine penalty and license-discipline cases and impose either consequence or both. Respondents have 20 days after receiving a violation notice to accept the determination and recommended penalty or request a hearing. The State Office of Administrative Hearings recommends findings and… - Veterinary complaint rules change both sides: mixed, low. Complaint rules must separate complaint types, ensure review before dismissal, and notify the board of dismissals. Investigations must follow public risk, with priority for unlicensed practice. The board must dismiss baseless, unfounded, or outside-authority complaints; the former 180-day limit on… - Veterinary expert reviews gain legal protections: mixed, low. The board can hire qualified experts for complaints needing medical knowledge. Experts generally cannot face damage suits or board discipline for this work, limiting legal claims against them. This protection does not cover fraud, conspiracy, or malice. A veterinarian board member who reviews a com… - Veterinary records become easier to check: mixed, low. The board must provide online checks of veterinary license status and disciplinary information. It must update summaries of complaint numbers, types, and outcomes at least quarterly. Notices of alleged violations and discipline orders, including warnings and reprimands, are public. Complaint files… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Keith Bell, House - Sponsor: Brad Buckley, House - Sponsor: Terry Canales, House - Sponsor: Lacey Hull, House - Sponsor: Stan Kitzman, House - Sponsor: Charles Perry (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-30 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 29 | 2 | | | 2025-05-29 | House | Record vote | pass | 108 | 28 | | | 2025-05-21 | House | Record vote | pass | 113 | 26 | | | 2025-05-20 | House | Record vote | pass | 129 | 13 | | | 2025-05-20 | House | Record vote | pass | 126 | 16 | | | 2025-04-08 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | 2025-04-08 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 28 | 2 | | | | House | Committee vote: Agriculture & Livestock | pass | 9 | 0 | | | | Senate | Committee vote: Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Actions (77) - 2025-06-20: See remarks for effective date (House) - 2025-06-20: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2025-06-01: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2025-06-01: Signed in the House (House) - 2025-05-31: Signed in the Senate (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Reported enrolled (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Senate adopts conf. comm. report-reported (House) - 2025-05-30: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Senate adopts conference committee report (Senate) - 2025-05-29: House adopts conf. comm. report-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-29: Record vote (RV#4049) (House) - 2025-05-29: House adopts conference committee report (House) - 2025-05-27: Conf. Comm. Report distributed (House) - 2025-05-26: Conference committee report filed (Senate) - 2025-05-23: House appoints conferees-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-23: House grants request for conf comm-reported (Senate) - 2025-05-23: House appoints conferees (House) - 2025-05-23: House grants request for conference committee (House) - 2025-05-22: Senate appoints conferees-reported (House) - 2025-05-22: Senate requests conference committee-reported (House) - 2025-05-22: Senate refuses to concur-reported (House) - 2025-05-22: Senate appoints conferees (Senate) - 2025-05-22: Senate requests conference committee (Senate) - 2025-05-22: Senate refuses to concur (Senate) - 2025-05-22: Read (Senate) - 2025-05-22: House amendment(s) laid before the Senate (Senate) - 2025-05-21: House passage as amended reported (Senate) - 2025-05-21: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-21: Record vote (RV#3130) (House) - 2025-05-21: Passed (House) - 2025-05-21: Read 3rd time (House) - 2025-05-20: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-20: Record vote (RV#3072) (House) - 2025-05-20: Passed to 3rd reading as amended (House) - 2025-05-20: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-20: Record vote (RV#3071) (House) - 2025-05-20: Amended (1-Cain) (House) - 2025-05-20: Read 2nd time (House) - 2025-05-20: Placed on General State Calendar (House) - 2025-05-16: Considered in Calendars (House) - 2025-04-28: Committee report sent to Calendars (House) - 2025-04-25: Committee report distributed (House) - 2025-04-25: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House) - 2025-04-22: Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) (House) - 2025-04-22: Considered in public hearing (House) - 2025-04-17: Referred to Agriculture & Livestock (House) - 2025-04-17: Read first time (House) - 2025-04-09: Received from the Senate (House) - 2025-04-08: Reported engrossed (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Passed (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Three day rule suspended (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Passed to engrossment as amended (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Amended (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Amendment(s) offered (FA2 Birdwell) (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Amended (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Amendment(s) offered (FA1 Perry) (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Placed on intent calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Reported favorably w/o amendments (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Vote taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Testimony taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate) - 2025-03-24: Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs (Senate) - 2025-03-24: Read first time (Senate) - 2025-03-10: Filed (Senate) - 2025-03-10: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155E.PDF) - Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155F.PDF) - House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155H.PDF) - Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155I.PDF) - Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155S.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent… (vetoed) - SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by… (vetoed) - SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; req… (vetoed) - SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (vetoed) - SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed) - HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law) ## Sources - [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155E.HTM) - [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155E.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155F.HTM) - [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155F.PDF) - [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155H.HTM) - [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155H.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155I.HTM) - [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155I.PDF) - [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02155S.HTM) - [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB02155S.PDF) ## Related - [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R) - [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R) - [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R) - [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R) - [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R) - [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R) - [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills) - [Texas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2155-89R (as of 2026-10-19).