Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Arizona Legislature, fetched 2026-08-28. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
Senate Engrossed veterinarian visits; electronic means; prescriptions State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session 2026 SENATE BILL 1286 AN ACT Amending section 32-2240.03, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to veterinarians. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE) Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Section 32-2240.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read: START_STATUTE32-2240.03. Veterinarian client patient relationship through electronic means; consent; prescriptions; scope of practice A. Notwithstanding any other law and except for an animal that is used in commercial food production that is regulated under title 3, a veterinarian may establish a veterinarian client patient relationship through electronic means if all of the following apply: 1. The veterinarian is licensed pursuant to this chapter or holds a permit pursuant to section 32-2217.01. 2. The veterinarian obtains informed consent from the client, including an acknowledgement that the standards of care prescribed by this chapter apply to in-person visits and visits through electronic means. The veterinarian shall maintain for at least three years documentation of the consent described in this paragraph. 3. The veterinarian provides the client with the veterinarian's name and contact information and secures an alternate means of contacting the client if the electronic means is interrupted. The electronic or written record provided to the client after the [telemedicine] visit through electronic means must include the veterinarian's license number. 4. Before conducting an evaluation of the patient through electronic means, the veterinarian advises the client of all of the following: (a) The veterinarian may ultimately recommend an in-person visit. (b) The veterinarian is prohibited by federal law from prescribing some drugs or medications based only on an electronic examination. (c) The appointment through electronic means may be terminated at any time. 5. The veterinarian is able to recommend the client to a local veterinarian who can see the animal in person. The client has the option to choose an in-person visit. B. A veterinarian may prescribe drugs or medications after establishing a [veterinary] veterinarian client patient relationship through electronic means, except that: 1. Prescriptions based only on an electronic examination for non-antimicrobial drugs and non-flea and tick drugs may be initially issued for up to [fourteen] thirty days and may be renewed one time for up to [fourteen] thirty days with an additional electronic examination. 2. Prescriptions based only on an electronic examination for antimicrobial drugs may be issued only for one PERIOD of up to fourteen days of treatment. The VETERINARIAN may not issue any further ANTIMICROBIAL drug PRESCRIPTIONs for the same animal patient for the same ongoing treatment of the same condition unless a veterinarian performs an in-person EXAMINATION of the animal patient. 3. Prescriptions based only on an electronic examination for flea and tick drugs may be initially issued for up to three months and may be renewed one time for a period of up to three months. [2.] 4. Prescriptions based only on electronic examinations and that have been renewed once may not be renewed again without an in-person examination. [3.] 5. The veterinarian must notify the client that some prescription drugs or medications may be available at a pharmacy and, if requested, the veterinarian will submit a prescription to a pharmacy that the client chooses. [4.] 6. The veterinarian may not order, prescribe or make available a controlled substance as defined in section 36-2501 unless the veterinarian has performed an in-person physical examination of the patient or made medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the patient is kept. [5.] 7. The veterinarian shall prescribe all drugs and medications in accordance with all federal and state laws. C. Veterinarian services provided through electronic means are subject to the rules adopted pursuant to section 32-2275 relating to the practice of veterinary medicine. END_STATUTE
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