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 2140 By: Woods
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to veterinary medicine; defining
7 terms; authorizing the use of telemedicine in
8 veterinarian care; establishing requirements for
8 utilization of telemedicine; requiring State Board of
9 Veterinary Medical Examiners to promulgate rules;
9 providing for codification; and providing an
10 effective date.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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15 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 698.30f of Title 59, unless
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16 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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17 As used in this act:
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18 1. "Animal" means any animal other than humans and includes,
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19 but is not limited to, fowl, fish, birds, and reptiles, wild or
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20 domestic, living or dead;
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21 2. "Telemedicine" means the practice of veterinary medicine
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22 using electronic communications, information technology, or other
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23 means of interaction between a licensed veterinarian and an animal
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Req. No. 2993 Page 1
1 owner or caretaker when the veterinarian and the animal are not in
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2 the same physical location; and
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3 3. "Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" (VCPR) means the
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4 relationship defined in Section 698.2 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma
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5 Statutes and veterinary board rules, which may be established
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6 through telemedicine under the conditions set forth in this act.
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7 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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8 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 698.30g of Title 59, unless
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9 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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10 A. Telemedicine may be used by licensed veterinarians to
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11 evaluate, diagnose, and provide personalized treatment
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12 recommendations for animals when an in-person examination is not
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13 immediately feasible, provided that the:
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14 1. Condition of the animal requires timely veterinary attention
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15 to prevent death, serious harm, or unnecessary suffering;
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16 2. Use of telemedicine is limited to cases where visual or
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17 verbal communication with the owner or caretaker provides sufficient
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18 information for the veterinarian to make a professional judgment;
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19 3. Veterinarian obtains sufficient information to make an
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20 informed clinical decision through live videos, photographs,
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21 electronic records, or other approved telecommunication methods; and
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22 4. Telemedicine encounter is documented in the patient's
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23 medical record in the same manner as an in-person consultation.
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Req. No. 2993 Page 2
1 B. Telemedicine shall not be used as a substitute for annual
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2 exams, vaccinations, or other procedures requiring physical
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3 presence, unless approved by the State Board of Veterinary Medical
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4 Examiners.
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5 C. The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners shall
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6 promulgate rules and regulations establishing:
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7 1. Standards for the appropriate use of telemedicine in animal
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8 care;
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9 2. Requirements for recordkeeping and confidentiality of
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10 telemedicine encounters;
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11 3. Training for certification standards for veterinarians
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12 utilizing telemedicine; and
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13 4. Limitations on prescribing medications through telemedicine
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14 without a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) or an in-
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15 person examination, except in emergency cases where immediate
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16 treatment is necessary in order to preserve animal health and
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17 welfare.
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18 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
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20 60-2-2993 YG 1/15/2026 1:31:01 PM
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Req. No. 2993 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.