THE BILL ITSELF
SB 468
Animal Cruelty
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 468 By Senator Wright 8-00655-26 2026468__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to animal cruelty; amending s.
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474.214, F.S.; providing that failure to report
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suspected animal cruelty is grounds for certain
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disciplinary actions; amending s. 474.2165, F.S.;
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clarifying that the authorization to furnish medical
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records related to veterinary medical services to
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certain parties under certain circumstances includes,
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but is not limited to, instances where a veterinarian
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suspects animal cruelty; creating s. 828.124, F.S.;
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defining terms; requiring certain individuals to
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report incidents of animal cruelty to certain
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officials; requiring that a veterinarian, veterinary
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technician, or other animal treatment provider
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employee who makes a good faith report of animal
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cruelty to certain officials be held harmless from
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certain liability, disciplinary action, and
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retaliation; providing penalties for certain
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veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or animal
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treatment provider employees or volunteers who
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knowingly alter or destroy a medical record for the
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purpose of concealing animal cruelty; providing
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construction; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (qq) is added to subsection (1) of
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section 474.214, Florida Statutes, to read:
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474.214 Disciplinary proceedings.—
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(1) The following acts shall constitute grounds for which
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the disciplinary actions in subsection (2) may be taken:
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(qq) Failing to report suspected animal cruelty to the
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proper authorities pursuant to s. 828.124.
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Section 2. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
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474.2165, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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474.2165 Ownership and control of veterinary medical
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patient records; report or copies of records to be furnished.—
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(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, such
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records may not be furnished to, and the medical condition of a
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patient may not be discussed with, any person other than the
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client or the client’s legal representative or other
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veterinarians involved in the care or treatment of the patient,
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except upon written authorization of the client. However, such
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records may be furnished without written authorization under the
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following circumstances:
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(d) In any criminal action or situation where a
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veterinarian suspects a criminal violation , including, but not
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limited to, animal cruelty . If a criminal violation , including
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but not limited to animal cruelty as defined in s. 828.124, is
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suspected, a veterinarian may, without notice to or
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authorization from the client, report the violation to a law
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enforcement officer, an animal control officer who is certified
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pursuant to s. 828.27(4)(a), or an agent appointed under s.
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828.03. However, if a suspected violation occurs at a commercial
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food-producing animal operation on land classified as
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agricultural under s. 193.461, the veterinarian must provide
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notice to the client or the client’s legal representative before
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reporting the suspected violation to an officer or agent under
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this paragraph. The report may not include written medical
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records except upon the issuance of an order from a court of
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competent jurisdiction.
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Section 3. Section 828.124, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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828.124 Reporting animal cruelty; medical records.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) “Animal cruelty” means any act or omission that
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constitutes a violation of s. 828.12, s. 828.122, s. 828.126, or
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s. 828.13.
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(b) “Animal treatment provider” includes:
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1. Any animal care facility, hospital, mobile service or
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clinic, or shelter;
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2. A private veterinary practice;
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3. A college of veterinary medicine or veterinary
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technology program;
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4. A specialized veterinary hospital; or
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5. Any place dogs or cats are seen for any kind of
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treatment.
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(c) “Good faith report” means a report of animal cruelty
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which is made by a person without malice or consideration of
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personal benefit who has probable cause to believe such a report
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is true.
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(2) All of the following individuals must report suspected,
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both past or ongoing, incidents of animal cruelty to a local law
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enforcement officer, an animal control officer certified
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pursuant to s. 828.27(4)(a), or an agent appointed under s.
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828.03:
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(a) A veterinarian, if he or she has a
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veterinarian/client/patient relationship with the animal.
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(b) A veterinary technician employed by an animal treatment
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provider or any other employee of the animal treatment provider,
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if the animal is a past or current patient of the animal
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treatment provider with whom the technician or employee is
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employed.
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(3) A veterinarian, veterinary technician, or other animal
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treatment provider employee who makes a good faith report of
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animal cruelty pursuant to this section to a local law
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enforcement officer, an animal control officer, or an agent
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appointed pursuant to subsection (2) shall be held harmless from
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criminal liability, civil liability, professional disciplinary
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action, and employer retaliation.
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(4) A veterinarian, excluding veterinarians subject to
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chapter 474, a veterinary technician, or an animal treatment
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provider employee or volunteer, who knowingly alters or destroys
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a medical record for the purpose of concealing or attempting to
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conceal animal cruelty or who causes the same to be done,
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commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
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provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
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(5) This section may not be construed to prohibit any
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person from making a good faith report of suspected animal
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cruelty to any national, state, or local law enforcement
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authority or any animal control agency.
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Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.