A Growing Legacy of Comfort: The Evolution of Animal Therapy in the Second Judicial Circuit
June 24, 2026
Celebrating Ten Years of The Florida Bar Animal Law Section
June 24, 2026By Tina Reale, FSU College of Law 3L, and Pets Ad Litem Legislative Intern
Except for SB 1004 Domestic Animals, which was ordered enrolled, all animal-focused bills introduced in the 2026 Florida Legislative Session died. Following is a summary of the bills.
SB 1004 Domestic Animals (previously named “Sale of Dogs and Cats”)
Requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website specified information relating to each individual convicted of specified animal cruelty offenses; extending the timeframe for which a consumer may pursue remedies for the sale of an animal certifiably unfit for purchase; requiring a pet dealer to provide copies of specified medical records to a consumer; requiring the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to develop a list of best management practices for adoption and implementation, etc.
3/17/2026 Senate — Ordered enrolled.
SB 58 Animal Cremation
Creating “Sevilla’s Law”; requiring a provider of companion animal cremation services to provide certain individuals and entities with a written description of the services the provider offers; requiring certain providers to include a certification with the returned animal’s cremation remains; providing that certain acts are unlawful; providing civil penalties for initial and subsequent offenses, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Judiciary Committee.
SB 150 Designation of the State Birds
Designating the American flamingo as the official state bird and the Florida scrub-jay as the official state songbird; providing that such designations supersede the designation of the mockingbird as the official state bird, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.
SB 158 Pet Insurance
Revising requirements for disclosures from a pet insurer to a policyholder; prohibiting agents from soliciting the sale of pet insurance policies or pet wellness products under certain circumstances; authorizing agents to rely on certain standards and materials; specifying that certain training standards are not part of certain continuing education requirements; providing that certain courses are eligible for certain continuing education credit, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.
SB 264 Official State Bird
Requiring the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to develop and conduct a certain survey; requiring the Commission to provide the survey and certain website information to specified persons during a specified timeframe; requiring that the survey include specified bird species, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
SB 468 Animal Cruelty
Providing that failure to report suspected animal cruelty is grounds for certain disciplinary actions; requiring that a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or other animal treatment provider employee who makes a good faith report of animal cruelty to certain officials be held harmless from certain liability, disciplinary action, and retaliation; providing penalties for certain veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or animal treatment provider employees or volunteers who knowingly alter or destroy a medical record for the purpose of concealing animal cruelty, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Criminal Justice Committee.
SB 796 Veterinary Medicine
Citing this act as the “Veterinary Workforce Innovation Act”; increasing the amount of time for which prescriptions based solely on a veterinary telehealth evaluation may be issued for certain drugs; providing requirements for veterinary professional associates to receive certificates of registration from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation; requiring the Department to make a list of veterinary professional associate registrants publicly available on its website; authorizing the Department to rescind the registration of a veterinary professional associate under certain circumstances, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died on Calendar.
HB 921 Animal Cruelty
Providing that failure to report suspected animal cruelty is grounds for certain disciplinary actions; clarifies that authorization to furnish medical records related to veterinary medical services to certain parties includes, but is not limited to, instances where veterinarian suspects animal cruelty; defines; requires certain individuals to report incidents of animal cruelty to certain officials; requires that veterinarian, veterinary technician, or other animal treatment provider employee who makes good faith report of animal cruelty to certain officials be held harmless from certain liability, disciplinary action, & retaliation; provides penalties for certain veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or animal treatment provider employees or volunteers who knowingly alter or destroy medical record for purpose of concealing animal cruelty.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 House — Died in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee.
SB 1050 Veterinary Prescription Disclosure
Requiring a veterinarian or authorized member of veterinary staff to inform a client of the right to receive a written prescription to be filled at a pharmacy of the client’s choice or the option to have the prescription filled at the veterinary establishment; requiring that the disclosure include an acknowledgement signed by the client; providing that such acknowledgement be documented in the patient’s medical records, etc.
Last Action: 2/19/2026 Senate — Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 89 -SJ 347.
SB Handling of Animals
Requiring the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop and adopt rules, best management practices, and other measures for dog breeding in this state; deleting a limit on veterinary costs under certain provisions; specifying requirements for retail stores that offer animals for sale; requiring dog breeders to apply to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation for a certificate of registration and to renew the certificate at specified intervals, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.
SB 1382 Practice of Veterinary Medicine
Revising the membership of the Board of Veterinary Medicine; specifying the services a veterinary technician or veterinary technologist must be licensed to perform, under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian; specifying that licensed veterinarians are responsible for all services performed by licensed veterinary technicians or veterinary technologists; specifying the services that only licensed veterinarians may perform or provide, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Regulated Industries Committee.
SB 1418 Testing of Cosmetics on Animals
Citing this act as the “Sickles High School Ought to be a Law Cosmetic Animal Testing Act of 2026”; prohibiting manufacturers from using animal testing as part of the cosmetics manufacturing process; prohibiting manufacturers from repackaging, selling, holding, or offering for sale cosmetics that have been tested on animals; providing that manufacturers, upon issuance of a cosmetic manufacturer permit, consent to specified inspections by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, etc.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Regulated Industries Committee.
SB 1708 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.
Last Action: 3/10/2026 Senate — Laid on Table, refer to HB 1509 -SJ 738.
HB 881 Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Authorizes thoroughbred permitholders to elect not to conduct live racing; specifying that such permitholders retain certain permits, eligibility, exemptions, and licenses; revising penalties for permitholders who do not pay specified taxes; revising requirements for thoroughbred permitholders who have certain slot machines and cardroom licenses.
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Senate — Died in Rules Committee.