HB 6195 Summary

• Establishes a veterinarian-client-patient relationship requirement for veterinarians to practice, requiring sufficient knowledge of the patient through in-person examination or professional visits, with limited exceptions for emergencies via telehealth.

• Adds new emergency licensing provisions allowing the board to grant temporary licenses (up to 90 days) to out-of-state licensed veterinarians and technicians during qualified states of emergency or large-scale animal cruelty cases without charging fees.

• Defines complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies (including acupuncture, homeopathy, manual therapy, nutraceutical therapy, and phytotherapy) as part of veterinary medicine practice.

• Requires veterinarians to issue prescriptions to animal owners upon request rather than dispensing prescription drugs directly.

• Establishes standards for facilities claiming to provide emergency veterinary services, requiring a veterinarian on-site during all operating hours, sufficient staffing and supplies, and either full-service hospital capability or dedicated after-hours/24-hour emergency services.