Update—March 8, 2024: Thank you for each action you took to advance this bill. While the bill passed the Florida House of Representatives unanimously last month, Florida's 2024 legislative session ended before it could receive the senate votes it needed to become law. We will continue working during future sessions to increase access to veterinary care.
This bill was designed to expand access to affordable veterinary care in the Sunshine State and increase career opportunities for veterinary professionals. This bill would create a Veterinary Professional Associate (or "PA") role, enabling people with a master’s degree in veterinary clinical care to perform routine checkups and procedures, and to diagnose and treat animals while under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
The veterinary industry is facing a critical shortage of professionals in the workforce, and Floridians are struggling to access care for their pets. Research shows that 75 million pets in the U.S. could be without veterinary care by 2030, and one-third of pets in the United States do not receive regular veterinary care.
This bill can increase access to veterinary care in Florida by:
- Combating the shortage of veterinary professionals.
- Expanding career opportunities within the veterinary field.
- Offering lower-cost alternatives for veterinary care.
- Increasing the availability of spay, neuter and dental surgeries.
A 2023 Mason-Dixon poll found that 90% of registered Florida voters support a state law establishing the Veterinary Professional Associate profession. Now that the bill is finally here, please help it become law.
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