This bill adds a new section to chapter 18.92 RCW and amends RCW 18.92.015 to create statutory rules for a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), define and regulate telehealth in veterinary practice, and add or clarify definitions and training/licensing requirements for certain clinic personnel. It is primarily a substantive statutory change establishing new law and procedural requirements rather than setting new criminal penalties. The bill sets out when a VCPR exists (the veterinarian accepts responsibility and the client agrees to follow instructions; the veterinarian has sufficient knowledge to form at least a general diagnosis; and the veterinarian is available for follow-up or has emergency coverage). "Sufficient knowledge" can be shown by a physical exam within the past year (or sooner if medically appropriate) or, in specified circumstances, by telehealth; for multi-animal operations it may be shown by personal acquaintance through exams or timely site visits. The VCPR can extend to all veterinarians at the same premises or mobile practice entity as the veterinarian who established the most current VCPR but may not be based solely on access to records. Telehealth is defined broadly to include teleadvice, telemedicine, and teletriage; allowable services without an existing VCPR are limited (teleadvice, emergency teletriage, limited pre-visit sedation prescribing, dispensing drugs prescribed by another veterinarian under conditions, and poison control), and telehealth practice is subject to informed consent, recordkeeping, privacy and technology standards, and board certification and hands-on practice requirements (generally at least 14 days per year unless exempt). The bill imposes limits and procedural rules on prescribing and drug use: veterinary drugs generally must be used or prescribed within a VCPR except as allowed, extra-label use is allowed only when ordered by a veterinarian within a VCPR, non-antimicrobial prescriptions issued via telehealth may not exceed three months without an in-person exam, antimicrobials prescribed via telehealth are limited to 21 days and any further prescription for the same condition requires an in-person exam. For food animals and farm operations the bill requires a written agreement identifying a farm veterinarian of record accountable for drug use and oversight duties and requires veterinary feed directives to comply with federal law (including 21 C.F.R. 558.6). The Washington state veterinary board of governors is identified as the "board"; the bill also creates a "veterinary medication clerk" role requiring board‑approved training (developed with the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission) and references licensure requirements for "veterinary technician" under RCW 18.92.128. The provided text is incomplete in places. The amendment text for RCW 18.92.015 is cut off, the definitions of "telemedicine" and "teletriage" are not included, the term "qualified individual" is not defined here, and the specific contents of the board-approved training program, rulemaking details, enforcement mechanisms, and any penalties are not present in the extracted facts.

If enacted, the bill makes it easier for Washington veterinarians to form and use a veterinarian‑client‑patient relationship (VCPR) through telehealth in cases where an in‑person exam is impractical, but it also sets clear limits and new duties. Practicing veterinarians and clinics will need to meet licensure and recordkeeping rules, provide client informed consent and referral options, arrange follow‑up or emergency coverage, and keep a minimum of hands‑on clinic days (14 days a year unless exempt). Prescribing rules will push more cases toward in‑person exams: noncontrolled drugs issued by telehealth generally cannot exceed three months, antimicrobials are limited to 21 days via telehealth, and refills often require a new exam. Farm operations must have a written agreement naming a farm veterinarian of record who is accountable for drug use and oversight, which shifts administrative responsibility and potential liability onto that veterinarian and the farm. The bill will also create new training and licensing tasks: people acting as veterinary medication clerks must complete a board‑approved training program developed with the pharmacy commission, and veterinary technicians must be licensed under existing state requirements. Most affected are licensed veterinarians, veterinary practices, farm operations, and clinics that will likely incur new compliance and administrative costs (training, telehealth technology, recordkeeping, and written agreements) and face higher responsibility and limits on remote prescribing. Important details are missing from the provided text—such as exact enforcement, penalties, the full scope of the board’s rulemaking, and complete definitions for some telehealth terms—so the practical reach and timing of these changes remain partly unclear.