AlabamaAlabama veterinarians follow yearly relationship rules for prescriptions and remote care
Starting October 1, 2026, Alabama veterinarians must renew client relationships yearly to prescribe or dispense drugs and may use remote advice in limited situations.
What it does
A veterinarian-client-patient relationship stays with the veterinarian who first established it and can also cover other veterinarians at the practice where the animal's records are kept.
Veterinarians must renew a client relationship each year to prescribe or dispense drugs. Refills may last up to one year from the first prescription, unless medical needs or state or federal rules restrict them.
Without a valid relationship, a veterinarian may use teletriage to assess an animal's condition and urgency, but cannot diagnose or treat the animal that way.
If an emergency happens during a valid relationship and the veterinarian who established it cannot examine the animal, a veterinarian may give advice or arrange care by telemedicine.
Argument forSharing a valid relationship among veterinarians at one practice could help animals get care when the veterinarian who first saw them is unavailable.
Argument againstOwners might lose access to refills if they miss the yearly renewal date, even when their animals still need medication.
More detail
A veterinarian-client-patient relationship, or VCPR, stays with the veterinarian who first established it and remains valid with other veterinarians at the practice where the patient's records are kept. This applies to licensed veterinarians at the practice where the patient's written or electronic records are kept. This provision takes effect October 1, 2026.
A veterinarian must renew a VCPR each year and may not prescribe or dispense drugs without one. The yearly renewal is due on the date the previous VCPR was established. If it is not renewed by then, the VCPR is not valid. A VCPR may not be formed just to sell drugs or through telemedicine. A prescription may be refilled for up to one year from its first date unless medical needs or state or federal law, rules, or regulations restrict or prohibit it. These requirements take effect October 1, 2026.
A veterinarian may use teletriage to assess an animal's condition and urgency, but may not diagnose or treat through teletriage. A veterinarian may communicate electronically with an individual about an animal's condition in these situations. Teletriage may be used if an emergency occurs without a valid VCPR, the person had no valid VCPR in the previous 12 months, or the person contacting the veterinarian is not a client. The veterinarian and person may arrange an in-person visit, or the veterinarian may refer the animal to another licensed veterinarian for assessment and treatment. These rules take effect October 1, 2026.
If an emergency occurs during a valid VCPR and the veterinarian who established it cannot examine the animal, a veterinarian may use telemedicine to communicate changed care instructions, give advice, or refer the client to another licensed veterinarian. This applies to the client and animal covered by the valid VCPR. The emergency must occur while the VCPR is valid, and the veterinarian who established it must be unavailable to examine the animal. This provision takes effect October 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 15EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 9EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 9Delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 9Signature Requested
- Apr 8Third Reading in Second House
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1319. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1319Passed House
- Apr 8Ready to Enroll
- Mar 5Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Agriculture and Forestry)Minor
- Mar 4Reported Out of Committee Second House
- Feb 26Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and ForestryMinor
- Feb 26Pending Committee Action in Second House (Agriculture and Forestry)
- Feb 25Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 618. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 620. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 619. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry 1st Substitute Offered (Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry)Minor
- Feb 25Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 618Major
- Feb 25Stutts 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Feb 25Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 619Major
- Feb 25Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 620Passed Senate
- Feb 25Engrossed
- Feb 12Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry)Minor
- Feb 11Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry 1st Substitute (Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry)
- Feb 11Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 15Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 15Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Healthcare)Minor
- Jan 15Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin (Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry)Minor
- Jan 13Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on HealthcareMinor
- Jan 13Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Healthcare)Introduced
Healthcare