PRIA Logo™
GeorgiaSB 5872025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Offenses Against Public Health and Morals; the establishment of an animal cruelty database; provide

Sponsored By: John Albers (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Marty Harbin (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Steven McNeel (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Blake Tillery (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Judiciary Non-CivilPublic SafetyGeneral Bill

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Free animal cruelty records for placement

Subject to appropriations or other available funding, Georgia's Prosecuting Attorneys' Council must create a statewide animal cruelty database by January 1, 2027. Its website must offer free public searches and updates at least monthly. Shelters, animal protection and control agencies, and the public can use it to screen prospective animal owners. It must list full names for convictions and guilty or no-contest pleas under specified Georgia laws: Sections 16-12-4(i)(1), 16-6-6, 16-7-21.2, 16-11-107, and 16-12-37. Court clerks must electronically send convictions and sentences to the Council within 60 days of entry. State law enforcement, prosecution, and corrections agencies must cooperate and provide relevant information promptly in the Council's required format. The Council can seek input from law enforcement and prosecutors and create a standard reporting form; no funding amount is specified.

New court tool for adult safety

Georgia superior courts can issue orders to locate the guardian of record for a disabled adult, elder person, or resident. This applies during an open investigation into exploitation or intimidation under Georgia Code Section 16-5-102. The person must have been moved from a known address to an unknown location. The court must be in the county of the known address. A law enforcement official must show that checking the person's welfare and safety is necessary to complete the investigation.

New court tool for child safety

Georgia superior courts can issue orders to locate a child's parent or guardian of record during an open child-cruelty investigation. The child must have been moved from a known address to an unknown location. The court must be in the county of the known address. A law enforcement official must show that checking the child's welfare and safety is necessary to complete the investigation.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • John Albers

    Republican • Senate

  • Lee Anderson

    Republican • Senate

  • Timothy Bearden

    Republican • Senate

  • Matt Brass

    Republican • Senate

  • Max Burns

    Republican • Senate

  • Bill Cowsert

    Republican • Senate

  • Jason T. Dickerson

    Republican • Senate

  • Frank Ginn

    Republican • Senate

  • Russ Goodman

    Republican • Senate

  • Marty Harbin

    Republican • Senate

  • Bo Hatchett

    Republican • Senate

  • Billy Hickman

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Hodges

    Republican • Senate

  • Chuck Hufstetler

    Republican • Senate

  • Kay Kirkpatrick

    Republican • Senate

  • Steven McNeel

    Republican • Senate

  • Chuck Payne

    Republican • Senate

  • Randy Robertson

    Republican • Senate

  • Shawn Still

    Republican • Senate

  • Brian Strickland

    Republican • Senate

  • Carden Summers

    Republican • Senate

  • Blake Tillery

    Republican • Senate

  • Sam Watson

    Republican • Senate

  • Rick Williams

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Beth Camp

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 265 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 4

House vote • 3/31/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 163 • No: 0 • Other: 8

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

PASSAGE AS AMENDED

Yes: 54 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. Senate Date Signed by Governor

    5/11/2026Senate

  3. Act 498

    5/11/2026

  4. Senate Sent to Governor

    4/10/2026Senate

  5. House Third Readers

    3/31/2026House

  6. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/31/2026House

  7. Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

    3/31/2026Senate

  8. House Withdrawn, Recommitted

    3/27/2026House

  9. House Postponed

    3/25/2026House

  10. House Committee Favorably Reported

    3/19/2026House

  11. House Second Readers

    3/10/2026House

  12. House First Readers

    3/9/2026House

  13. Senate Tabled

    3/6/2026Senate

  14. Senate Taken from Table

    3/6/2026Senate

  15. Senate Third Read

    3/6/2026Senate

  16. Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended

    3/6/2026Senate

  17. Senate Read Second Time

    3/4/2026Senate

  18. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/3/2026Senate

  19. Senate Read and Referred

    2/26/2026Senate

  20. Senate Hopper

    2/25/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • SB 587/AP* (v8)

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation