AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 5, 2026
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2026
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2026
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
96
Introduced by Assembly Member Soria
February 17, 2026
An act to amend Section 4854 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: yes Local program: no
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the California Veterinary Medical Board to license and regulate the practice of veterinary medicine. The act requires all premises where veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced to be kept clean and sanitary at all times and conform to minimum standards established by the board.
This bill would specify that high-quality, high-volume spay or neuter services, as defined, that are either performed in a registered veterinary premises or performed by a veterinarian employed or contracted with a veterinary premises in a temporary setting
are not required to take place in a facility that complies with specified standards, including a requirement for equipment for viewing radiographs. shall not be required to be performed in a separate surgical room. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to expand access to high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services in accordance with the prevailing standard of care for these services.
(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that high-volume spay or neuter services, as defined, are not required to be performed in a separate surgery room, and that any related surgery room requirements shall not apply to high-volume spay or neuter services.
(c) Nothing in this act is intended to exempt high-volume spay or neuter services from any other requirement applicable to the practice of veterinary medicine, nor exempt traditional non-high-volume spay or neuter services from any existing requirements.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2.
Section 4854 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
4854.
(a) All premises where veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced, and all instruments, apparatus and apparel used in connection with those practices, shall be kept clean and sanitary at all times, and shall conform to those minimum standards established by the board.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, high-quality, high-volume spay or neuter services performed either in a registered veterinary premises, or by a veterinarian employed or contracted with a veterinary premises in a temporary setting, shall not be required to take place in a facility that complies with any of the following standards:
shall not be required to be performed in a separate surgical room.
(2) A prohibition on open shelving in the area in which the aseptic surgical sterilization procedure is performed.
(3) A requirement for equipment for viewing radiographs.
(c) For purposes of this section, “high-quality, high-volume “high-volume spay or neuter services” means the aseptic surgical sterilization by a veterinarian, including the supervision by the veterinarian of presurgical preparation and recovery of the animals,
veterinarian of 20 or more dogs, cats, or rabbits, or any combination thereof, within 12 consecutive hours.