SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1708

Veterinary Licensure
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SPONSOR
Gaetz
FILED BY
Don Gaetz — District 1, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
HB 1509 — SB 1708 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Veterinary Licensure; Deleting the requirement for an applicant for licensure by endorsement to have held a valid active license to practice veterinary medicine in another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States for a specified amount of time; requiring applicants to hold a valid, active license in good standing to practice veterinary medicine in another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Drops the 3-year license history requirement for veterinarians seeking Florida licensure.

Out-of-state veterinarians used to need 3 years of continuous licensure elsewhere before Florida would license them by endorsement. That waiting period is gone; only a current, valid license matters now.

In its place, the applicant's out-of-state license must now be in good standing, not just active, adding a quality check where the old rule relied on time already served.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Removes the 3-year prior-licensure requirement majors. 474.217(1)

AIAn applicant for veterinary licensure by endorsement no longer has to prove they held an active out-of-state license continuously for the 3 years immediately before applying. Only a currently valid license is required.

“and has held for the 3 years immediately preceding the application for licensure” bill text, line 29 →
§ 2 Requires the out-of-state license to be in good standing majors. 474.217(1)

AIIn place of the deleted time requirement, the applicant's current out-of-state license must be in good standing, not merely active, adding a disciplinary-status check to the endorsement pathway.

“Holds a valid, active license in good standing to practice veterinary medicine in another state”
TIMELINE
3/10/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see HB 1509 (Ch. 2026-79 ) -SJ 747
3/10/2026
Substituted HB 1509 -SJ 747
3/10/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 747
3/9/2026
Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 704
3/6/2026
Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 683
3/3/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/06/26
2/25/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/24/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0
2/19/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/13/2026
Now in Rules
2/12/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment,...
2/9/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Agriculture,...
1/28/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and...
1/27/2026
Favorable by Regulated Industries; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/22/2026
On Committee agenda-- Regulated Industries, 01/27/26, 1:00 pm, 412...
1/16/2026
Referred to Regulated Industries; Appropriations Committee on...
1/9/2026
Filed
12 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 474.217
+3 / −14
s. 474.217
+0 / −0
s. 474.2125
+0 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →