SB105: SB105 Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians; licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians to practice veterinary teleadvice; authorize

Georgia law regulating veterinarians and veterinary technicians (O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 50) did not specifically address remote care using phone or video technology. This bill creates rules for three levels of remote veterinary service: teleadvice (general, non-specific advice), teletriage (urgent remote assessment of a specific animal), and telemedicine (full remote veterinary care, including within an existing vet-client-patient relationship). Veterinarians may practice telemedicine only if they primarily see clients in person, have notified the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, have an existing relationship with the client and animal, and meet several disclosure and record-keeping conditions. Teletriage and teleadvice can be offered even without an existing relationship, but teletriage requires that no vet is available within 50 miles within 24 hours. The bill also adds a licensing path for foreign veterinary graduates with board-certified specialties, letting them practice only in that specialty. Most sections take effect July 1, 2025, though the licensing and exemption sections take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature.

• Creates a new legal category called veterinary teleadvice, letting licensed vets and vet technicians give general, non-animal-specific advice remotely without needing an existing client relationship.
• Creates veterinary teletriage, allowing remote urgent assessment of a specific animal when no vet is available within 50 miles within 24 hours, with required client disclosures.
• Authorizes full veterinary telemedicine, but only for vets who mainly practice in person, have notified the state board, and have an existing relationship with the client and animal.
• Gives the State Board of Veterinary Medicine power to license, discipline, and set rules for teleadvice, teletriage, and telemedicine practitioners.
• Adds a licensing path for foreign-trained veterinarians who hold a specialty board certification, but limits their practice to that certified specialty.
• Expands who counts as covered by an existing vet-client-patient relationship to include other vets working at the same practice.

Licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians in Georgia, pet owners and livestock producers seeking remote veterinary advice or care, foreign-trained veterinarians seeking Georgia licenses, veterinary practices operating in rural or underserved areas, and the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, which gains new oversight duties.

Pet and livestock owners, especially in areas without a nearby vet, could get urgent guidance or general advice remotely instead of waiting for an in-person visit. Veterinarians gain a clearer legal path to offer remote services, while the state board takes on new responsibility for licensing and disciplining remote practitioners.

• Section 1 adds definitions for veterinary teleadvice, veterinary telemedicine, and veterinary teletriage, and expands the definition of a vet-client-patient relationship to cover co-workers at the same facility.
• Section 2 gives the State Board of Veterinary Medicine authority to license, discipline, and regulate telemedicine, teletriage, and teleadvice practice.
• Section 3 makes it illegal to practice veterinary telemedicine, teletriage, or teleadvice in Georgia without a proper license.
• Section 4 creates a licensing path for foreign veterinary school graduates who hold specialty board certification, limiting them to practicing in that specialty area.
• Section 6 (new Article 7, O.C.G.A. §§ 43-50-120 to 43-50-122) sets detailed conditions for telemedicine (existing relationship required), teletriage (no vet within 50 miles in 24 hours), and teleadvice (no relationship required).
• Section 7 sets the effective dates: licensing and exemption provisions took effect upon the Governor's signature, and the rest took effect July 1, 2025.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-13Act 190
3. 2025-05-13Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-04-04Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2025-03-27House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2025-03-27House Third Readers (House)
8. 2025-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)Primary sponsor
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #162

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2025

   168 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 10 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #324

3. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   51 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #476

• veterinary medicine
• telemedicine
• animal care
• professional licensing
• rural health access