Florida 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 3 R · 1 D cosponsors

HB 921 — Animal Cruelty

Last action — Died in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced December 29, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Animal Cruelty ; Provides that failure to report suspected animal cruelty is grounds for certain disciplinary actions; clarifies that authorization to furnish medical records related to veterinary medical services to certain parties includes, but is not limited to, instances where veterinarian suspects animal cruelty; defines; requires certain individuals to report incidents of animal cruelty to certain officials; requires that veterinarian, veterinary technician, or other animal treatment provider employee who makes good faith report of animal cruelty to certain officials be held harmless from certain liability, disciplinary action, & retaliation; provides penalties for certain veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or animal treatment provider employees or volunteers who knowingly alter or destroy medical record for purpose of concealing animal cruelty.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill mandates reporting of suspected animal cruelty by certain professionals and establishes related protections and penalties.

  • 474.214

    qq) Failing to report suspected animal cruelty to the proper authorities pursuant to s. 828.124.

    It adds failing to report suspected animal cruelty as a ground for disciplinary actions against veterinarians.

  • 474.2165

    However, such records may be furnished without written authorization under the following circumstances: → However, such records may be furnished without written authorization under the following circumstances: (d) In any criminal action or situation where a veterinarian suspects a criminal violation, including, but not limited to, animal cruelty.

    It clarifies that veterinarians can report suspected animal cruelty without client authorization.

  • 828.124

    (1) As used in this section, the term: (a) "Animal cruelty" means any act or omission that constitutes a violation of s. 828.12, s. 828.122, s. 828.126, or s. 828.13.

    It establishes a new section defining animal cruelty and related reporting obligations.

  • 828.124

    (2) All of the following individuals must report suspected, both past or ongoing, incidents of animal cruelty to a local law enforcement officer, an animal control officer certified pursuant to s. 828.27(4)(a), or an agent appointed under s. 828.03: (a) A veterinarian, if he or she has a veterinarian/client/patient relationship with the animal.

    It requires veterinarians and certain employees to report suspected animal cruelty.

  • 828.124

    (3) A veterinarian, veterinary technician, or other animal treatment provider employee who makes a good faith report of animal cruelty pursuant to this section to a local law enforcement officer, an animal control officer, or an agent appointed pursuant to subsection (2) shall be held harmless from criminal liability, civil liability, professional disciplinary action, and employer retaliation.

    It provides legal protections for individuals making good faith reports.

  • 828.124

    (4) A veterinarian, excluding veterinarians subject to chapter 474, a veterinary technician, or an animal treatment provider employee or volunteer, who knowingly alters or destroys a medical record for the purpose of concealing or attempting to conceal animal cruelty or who causes the same to be done, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

    It creates penalties for those who alter medical records to conceal animal cruelty.

Action History

  1. Died in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

  2. 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  3. Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

  4. Referred to Commerce Committee

  5. Referred to Judiciary Committee

  6. Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

  7. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 160 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (160)

160 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 921 do?
Animal Cruelty ; Provides that failure to report suspected animal cruelty is grounds for certain disciplinary actions; clarifies that authorization to furnish medical records related to veterinary medical services to certain parties includes, but is not limited to, instances where veterinarian suspects animal cruelty; defines; requires certain individuals to report incidents of animal cruelty to certain officials; requires that veterinarian, veterinary technician, or other animal treatment provider employee who makes good faith report of animal cruelty to certain officials be held harmless from certain liability, disciplinary action, & retaliation; provides penalties for certain veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or animal treatment provider employees or volunteers who knowingly alter or destroy medical record for purpose of concealing animal cruelty.
Who sponsors HB 921?
HB 921 is sponsored by Weinberger, Meg (Republican), Sirois, Tyler I. (Republican), Gossett-Seidman, Peggy (Republican), and Long, Rob (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 921?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced December 29, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 921?
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Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

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