Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
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3 SENATE BILL 1677 By: Frix
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to veterinary medicine; creating the
7 Veterinary Telemedicine for Livestock Care Act;
8 providing short title; defining terms; providing
8 requirements for the use of telemedicine in
9 veterinarian care; providing conditions for
9 utilization of telemedicine; authorizing the State
10 Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to promulgate
10 rules; providing for noncondification; providing for
11 codification; and declaring an emergency.
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14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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15 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
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16 codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
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17 This act shall be known as the "Veterinary Telemedicine for
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18 Livestock Care Act".
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19 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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20 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 698.30c of Title 59, unless
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21 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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22 As used in this act:
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Req. No. 3229 Page 1
1 1. "Livestock" means cattle, bison, swine, sheep, goats,
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2 equine, and poultry raised for commercial, agricultural, or
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3 subsistence purposes;
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4 2. "Telemedicine" means the practice of veterinary medicine
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5 using electronic communications, information technology, or other
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6 means of interaction between a licensed veterinarian and a livestock
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7 owner or caretaker when the veterinarian and the animal are not in
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8 the same physical location; and
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9 3. "Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" (VCPR) means the
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10 relationship defined in Section 698.2 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma
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11 Statutes and veterinary board rules, which may be established
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12 through telemedicine under the conditions set forth in this act.
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13 SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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14 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 698.30d of Title 59, unless
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15 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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16 A. Telemedicine may be used by licensed veterinarians to
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17 evaluate, diagnose, and provide personalized treatment
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18 recommendations for livestock when an in-person examination is not
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19 immediately feasible, provided that the:
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20 1. Condition of the livestock requires timely veterinary
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21 attention to prevent death, serious harm, or unnecessary suffering;
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22 2. Use of telemedicine is limited to cases where visual or
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23 verbal communication with the owner or caretaker provides sufficient
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24 information for the veterinarian to make a professional judgment;
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Req. No. 3229 Page 2
1 3. Veterinarian obtains sufficient information to make an
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2 informed clinical decision through live videos, photographs,
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3 electronic records, or other approved telecommunication methods; and
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4 4. Telemedicine encounter is documented in the patient's
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5 medical record in the same manner as an in-person consultation.
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6 B. Telemedicine shall not be used as a substitute for annual
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7 herd health inspections, vaccinations, or other procedures requiring
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8 physical presence, unless approved by the State Board of Veterinary
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9 Medical Examiners.
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10 SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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11 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 698.30e of Title 59, unless
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12 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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13 The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners shall promulgate
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14 rules and regulations establishing:
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15 1. Standards for the appropriate use of telemedicine in
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16 livestock care;
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17 2. Requirements for recordkeeping and confidentiality of
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18 telemedicine encounters;
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19 3. Training for certification standards for veterinarians
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20 utilizing telemedicine; and
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21 4. Limitations on prescribing medications through telemedicine
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22 without a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) or an in-
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23 person examination, except in emergency cases where immediate
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Req. No. 3229 Page 3
1 treatment is necessary in order to preserve animal health and
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2 welfare.
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3 SECTION 5. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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4 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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5 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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6 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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8 60-2-3229 YG 1/14/2026 9:55:09 AM
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Req. No. 3229 Page 4Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.