The Florida Veterinary Medical Association is committed to protecting the quality and integrity of veterinary medicine through legislative advocacy. This past March, FVMA staff, board members, and members of the Political Action Committee traveled to Tallahassee to meet with representatives about four high-priority bills. Here is a recap of those bills and the FVMA’s position on each.
The FVMA strongly opposes SB 652/HB 729, which seeks to establish a midlevel practitioner position known as a veterinary professional associate (VPA). The FVMA argues that this position poses significant risks to patient safety and well-being, as VPAs would be considered equivalent to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) while receiving substantially less education and clinical training than licensed veterinarians. In comparison, both veterinarians and VPAs would usually complete a four-year undergraduate college degree. However, according to the only existing state VPA program, in Colorado, VPAs would then only be required to complete five semesters of additional veterinary education Three are fully online, one consists of in-person laboratory training, and the final semester is a clinical internship. This contrasts sharply with a doctoral veterinary education and training program, which requires an additional four years of veterinary medical schooling, including significantly more hands-on surgical and diagnostic training with live animals and cadavers in a laboratory setting. Furthermore, despite VPAs having overlapping responsibilities with veterinarians, they would not be legally allowed to prescribe medication, which could lead to treatment delays and unnecessary suffering for animals. Additionally, there is no evidence to support claims that VPAs would enhance access to care or reduce medical costs for pet owners. For these reasons, the FVMA is actively urging policymakers to reject this legislation in favor of strengthening existing veterinary care teams.
In response to the VPA bill, the FVMA strongly supports SB 898/HB 767, which seeks to establish licensure for veterinary technicians in Florida. Veterinary technicians already hold an established and essential role in veterinary practices, contributing greatly to productivity and efficiency within veterinary practice.
This legislation would help align state standards with those of the rest of the country, as 44 other states already have licensing requirements in place. Under this bill, licensed technicians would be authorized to conduct routine health examinations, administer rabies vaccinations, and assist in expanding access to veterinary care. Additionally, the legislation provides a defined scope of practice, title recognition, and a designated seat for a licensed technician on the Board of Veterinary Medicine. By elevating credentialed technicians, this initiative would enhance team dynamics in veterinary practices, improve patient care, and help reduce costs for pet owners.
The FVMA also strongly supports SB 1038/HB 1059, which seeks to restore continuing education (CE) requirements for veterinarians. Due to an unintended consequence of last year’s legislation, veterinarians were mistakenly included in an exemption that removed CE requirements after 10 years of practice. Continuing education is essential in a field that evolves rapidly with new treatments, technologies, and research. Maintaining CE ensures that veterinarians provide the highest standard of care, comply with legal and safety standards, and protect public health and agriculture in Florida. Lifelong learning is a fundamental responsibility of veterinary professionals, benefiting not only the animals they treat but also their owners and the broader community.
Beyond education and licensing, the FVMA is also advocating to keep certain essential drugs accessible to DVMs. That is why the FVMA strongly supports SB 1360/HB 57, which aims to protect veterinary access to xylazine while addressing its illicit use. Xylazine is a critical sedative used in veterinary medicine, particularly for safely handling cattle, wildlife, and zoo animals, with no viable alternatives available. The bill ensures that FDA-approved veterinary xylazine remains accessible by classifying it as a Schedule III controlled substance, allowing veterinarians to maintain necessary records while preventing diversion. At the same time, it strengthens penalties for illicit xylazine trafficking and maintains illegally imported xylazine as a Schedule I narcotic. With no significant evidence of diversion from veterinary sources, the FVMA emphasizes that restricting legitimate access would endanger both animal welfare and human safety.
The FVMA remains committed to advocating for policies that protect the veterinary profession, enhance patient care, and ensure access to essential treatments. To stay informed about legislative developments affecting veterinary medicine in Florida, visit www.fvma.org/advocacy for a watch list of bills the FVMA is monitoring.