Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7020: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE (Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.)
Status: Signed into law, June 23, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 9, 2026:
2026 -- H 7020 ======== LC003494 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE Introduced By: Representatives J. Brien, Solomon, Baginski, Serpa, and Lima Date Introduced: January 09, 2026 Referred To: House Corporations It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 5-25-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-25 entitled "Veterinary Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows: 5-25-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) "Animal" means any animal other than humans and includes, by way of illustration, not limitation, fowl, birds, fish, livestock, and reptiles, wild or domestic, living or dead. (2) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health. (3) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island department of health. (4) "Division" means the division of professional regulation within the department of health established in chapter 26 of this title. (5) "Veterinarian" means a person who practices is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Rhode Island. (6) "Veterinarian/client/patient relationship" means a relationship where all of the following conditions have been met: (i) The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of the animal or animals and the need for medical treatment, and the client has agreed to follow the instructions of the …
Sponsors
- Jon Brien (I) · primary sponsor
- Joseph Solomon (D)
- Jacquelyn Baginski (D, HD-017)
- Patricia Serpa (D, HD-027)
- Charlene Lima (D, HD-014)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed in concurrence
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
Votes
- Senate Seq #682: (June 11, 2026): 29 yea, 9 nay, passed
- House Seq #432: PASSAGE (June 9, 2026): 70 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Corporations: Passage (June 8, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS
Common questions
- What is H7020?
- H7020 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE (Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.).
- What is the status of H7020?
- Signed into law as of June 23, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7020?
- Jon Brien (I), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7020?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7020.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.