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AlabamaSB3612026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Dogs; tethering and confinement requirements provided; persons and activities exempted; criminal penalties for, animal control officer enforcement of, violations established

Sponsored By: Garlan Gudger (Republican)

Enacted

Animals

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Dog-care violations bring costs and charges

Beginning October 1, 2026, people violating Alabama's dog tethering, confinement, or shelter rules must pay all boarding and veterinary-care costs. A first violation is a Class C misdemeanor. A second is Class B, and a third or later violation is Class A. The law states no dollar amounts for these care costs or criminal penalties.

New rules for restraining outdoor dogs

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama requires a compliant trolley system to tie a dog to a fixed object, unless exempt. Each tether must hold only one dog, have swivels at both ends, and attach to a properly fitted collar or harness. It cannot be unreasonably heavy or create risks of injury, strangulation, or tangling; logging chains, choke collars, and pinch collars are banned. Dog enclosures must be secure, fully fenced, and roomy enough for free movement. Both setups must keep dogs on the owner's or responsible person's property and provide continuous access to adequate food, drinking water, and shelter. Listed exemptions cover veterinary care, kennels, shelters, judged events, training, service or assistance dogs, grooming, federally licensed Class A breeders, and specified working-dog activities; leash walking is also exempt from tethering rules. Limited business-related and temporary campsite, recreation-area, and home situations are exempt, with reasonable time and weather limits.

Outdoor dogs must have safe shelter

Beginning October 1, 2026, people keeping dogs tied or confined outdoors in Alabama must provide unlimited access to weather-protective shelter. It must keep dogs dry, provide shade, and include cold-weather bedding when needed. It must be fully enclosed, with an entry opening, a solid floor, durable materials, and adequate ventilation. Dogs must have room to stand, turn, lie normally, and extend their limbs; shelter must stay free of accumulated waste, standing water, and debris. Exemptions cover specified farming, herding, hunting, and retrieving activities, qualifying business-related situations, and temporary campsite, recreation-area, or home situations with reasonable time and weather limits.

Dog enforcement powers and liability protections

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama counties and cities may appoint animal control investigators who need not be certified law enforcement officers. Local agents are authorized to inspect suspected violations, and officers may seek warrants to enter private property. With probable cause of a violation, a certified officer may remove a dog believed to face life-threatening danger. The officer may instead order necessary care at the owner's expense; removal and care orders follow existing Alabama hearing and disposition procedures. Counties, cities, and officers acting in good faith are protected from liability, whether or not a removed dog returns home. Property owners, dog owners, and responsible people are not liable for an officer's injury during attempted seizure unless they intentionally caused it. The law leaves enforcement of other animal cruelty and neglect laws intact.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Garlan Gudger

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 1,149 • No: 375

House vote • 4/8/2026

Ensler motion to Table - Lost Roll Call 1274

Yes: 48 • No: 50 • Other: 1

House vote • 4/8/2026

Ellis motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 1278

Yes: 50 • No: 43 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1275

Yes: 100 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1280

Yes: 69 • No: 23 • Other: 9

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Gudger motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1267

Yes: 17 • No: 1

House vote • 4/8/2026

Ensler motion to Table - Lost Roll Call 1277

Yes: 46 • No: 53

House vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1268

Yes: 98 • No: 1 • Other: 3

House vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1279

Yes: 92 • No: 3 • Other: 3

House vote • 4/8/2026

Ensler motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 1276

Yes: 49 • No: 36 • Other: 5

House vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1273

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2026

Ensler motion to Table - Lost Roll Call 1269

Yes: 5 • No: 93 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1267

Yes: 81 • No: 8 • Other: 13

House vote • 4/8/2026

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 75 • No: 19 • Other: 5

House vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1272

Yes: 101 • No: 1

House vote • 4/8/2026

Ensler motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 1271

Yes: 56 • No: 42 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1270

Yes: 101 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 857

Yes: 28 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 30 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    4/13/2026Senate

  2. Ready to Enroll

    4/9/2026Senate

  3. Enrolled

    4/9/2026Senate

  4. Delivered to Governor

    4/9/2026Senate

  5. Signature Requested

    4/9/2026House

  6. Third Reading in Second House

    4/8/2026House

  7. Agriculture and Forestry Engrossed Substitute Offered

    4/8/2026House

  8. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1267

    4/8/2026House

  9. Lovvorn 1st Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

  10. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1268

    4/8/2026House

  11. Brinyark 1st Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

  12. Ensler motion to Table - Lost Roll Call 1269

    4/8/2026House

  13. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1270

    4/8/2026House

  14. Rigsby 1st Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

  15. Hammett 1st Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

  16. Ensler motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 1271

    4/8/2026House

  17. Rigsby 2nd Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

  18. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1272

    4/8/2026House

  19. Lovvorn 2nd Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

  20. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1273

    4/8/2026House

  21. Rehm 1st Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

  22. Ensler motion to Table - Lost Roll Call 1274

    4/8/2026House

  23. Colvin 1st Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

  24. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1275

    4/8/2026House

  25. Smith 1st Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026House

Bill Text

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