With two weeks of the nine week legislative session over, House Bill (HB)685 and Senate Bill (SB)1540 are both being heard in their respective houses with lightening speed! These bills were drafted with the assistance of AVDA members and AVDA’s lobbyist in Florida, Capital Ideas.

HB 685, by freshman Marti Coley, was given four committee references. As of this publication, it has passed unanimously out of two of those committees. It is poised to be heard in its next committee no later than the week of March 27^th. The bill has been well received by all committee members and Democrats as well as Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors.

SB 1540, by Senator Carey Baker, was given two committee references. It is being heard in Regulated Industries committee March 20 and should be ready for its final committee hearing the week of March 27.

The language in these bills is the same language as we offered last session except that the classes of purchasers are listed as part of the criteria for distribution. Without that language, AVDA members might have been forbidden to sell to veterinary schools, law enforcement or other regular purchasers of human drugs for veterinary purposes.

The bill continues to be supported by the Florida Veterinary Association, the Governor’s office of Drug Policy, the Statewide Prosecutor, the Attorney General and the Department of Health.

Another bill has been introduced, HB 1397, which moves the effective date of the enactment of the pedigree requirement. The sponsor has included the AVDA language from HB 685/SB 1540 so we may pass our bill twice in this session.

We expect the bill will pass the Legislature in April. To see a House of Representatives staff analysis of HB 685, click here.