By: Johnson  S.B. No. 1442          (In the Senate - Filed February 19, 2025; March 6, 2025,   read first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture and   Rural Affairs; April 29, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable   Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 1;   April 29, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1442 By:  Blanco     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to a study by the State Board of Veterinary Medical   Examiners on establishing a veterinarian-client-patient   relationship by telephone or electronic means.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  (a)  In this Act, "board" means the State Board   of Veterinary Medical Examiners.          (b)  The board shall conduct a study on establishing a   veterinarian-client-patient relationship by telephone or   electronic means, including by using audiovisual   telecommunications technology.  In conducting the study, the board   must consider:                (1)  whether synchronous audiovisual   telecommunications technology is available and efficient for use by   veterinarians;                (2)  the board's authority to exercise jurisdiction   over a veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine in this state by   telephone or electronic means, regardless of the veterinarian's   physical location;                (3)  the need for rules regarding the affiliation of a   veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine by telephone or   electronic means with a veterinary practice located in this state;                (4)  the need for laws regarding the prescription of   controlled substances and the provision of veterinary medical   services to animals associated with an agricultural operation;                (5)  whether to amend Chapter 801, Occupations Code, to   authorize and regulate the establishment of a   veterinarian-client-patient relationship by telephone or   electronic means without a physical examination of an animal; and                (6)  the extent to which changes to Chapter 801,   Occupations Code, are required for the state to comply with the   opinion in Hines v. Pardue, 117 F.4th 769 (5th Cir. 2024).          (c)  Not later than December 1, 2026, the board shall submit   to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house   of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature   with primary jurisdiction over the practice of veterinary medicine   a report on the results of the study conducted under Subsection (b)   of this section and any recommendations for legislative or other   action.  The report may be submitted electronically.          SECTION 2.  This Act expires December 31, 2026.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *