Georgia House Bill HB1195

Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/26
• Report Pass: 2/24/26
• Engrossed: 3/3/26
• Refer: 3/4/26
• Report Pass: 3/12/26
• Enrolled: 4/6/26

Caption

Veterinarians; practice and provision of veterinary teletriage and veterinary telemedicine; revise provisions

Summary

HB 1195 revises Georgia law governing veterinary teletriage and veterinary teleadvice. The bill allows a licensed veterinarian, or a veterinary technician supervised by a licensed veterinarian, to provide teletriage even when no veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists, so long as certain conditions are met. Those conditions include the unavailability of a veterinarian within a 50-mile radius to perform a physical examination within 24 hours of the client’s request, a request that the animal be presented for an in-person exam as soon as reasonably practical, and written disclosure to the client of the veterinarian’s identity, license information, location, and the limits of teletriage, with a signed acknowledgment from the client. The bill also clarifies that Georgia law does not prohibit licensed veterinarians or supervised veterinary technicians from providing veterinary teleadvice regardless of whether a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists, and it expressly states that such a relationship is not required for teleadvice or teletriage. The act takes effect upon gubernatorial approval or becoming law without approval and repeals conflicting laws.

Impact

HB 1195 amends Article 7 of Chapter 50 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, specifically Code Sections 43-50-121 and 43-50-122. It expands and clarifies when veterinarians and supervised veterinary technicians may use teletriage and teleadvice without an established veterinary-client-patient relationship, while adding notice and documentation requirements for teletriage. The practical effect is to broaden remote access to veterinary guidance in areas where in-person care is not readily available, while preserving a requirement that animals be referred for physical examination when appropriate.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received very favorably and without recorded opposition. It passed the House unanimously, 170-0, and the Senate unanimously, 44-0. The absence of committee transcripts or recorded debate suggests little visible controversy, and the voting history indicates broad bipartisan support for the measure.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The main policy balance in the bill is between expanding access to veterinary teletriage and teleadvice, especially in underserved or rural areas, and ensuring that remote guidance does not replace necessary in-person examination. The bill addresses that concern by limiting teletriage to situations where no veterinarian is available within 50 miles for a timely physical exam and by requiring written disclosure and a signed acknowledgment from the client.