California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Assembly Bill
AB 516: Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants: scope of practice.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
AB 516 is a assembly bill introduced in the California Assembly on February 10, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants: scope of practice. Primary sponsor: Ash Kalra (D). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (October 6, 2025): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 371, Statutes of 2025.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.
Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the California Veterinary Medical Board to license and regulate the practice of veterinary medicine. Existing law authorizes registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants to perform animal health care services prescribed by law under the supervision of a veterinarian, and authorizes registered veterinary technicians to perform animal health care services on animals impounded by a state, county, city, or city and county agency pursuant to an order of a veterinarian.
This bill would instead authorize registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants to perform animal health care services not otherwise prohibited by law under the supervision of a veterinarian, and would authorize both registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants to perform animal health care services not otherwise prohibited by law on animals housed in public or private animal shelters, humane societies, or societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals pursuant to an order of a veterinarian. The bill would also authorize a registered veterinary technician to perform dental care procedures, including tooth extractions, under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2 · Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ash Kalra | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Assembly | 25 |
| Dave Cortese | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 15 |
| Joe Patterson | Co-sponsor | Republican | Assembly | 5 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 371, Statutes of 2025.
- Approved by the Governor.
- Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
- Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2876.).
- In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2413.).
- Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
- From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
- From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
- Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
- In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.