SB102: SB102 Dogfighting; revise provisions

Georgia law already makes dogfighting a felony. This bill rewrites that law (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-37) to add game cocks, roosters bred and trained to fight other birds, to the same set of bans that apply to dogs. It becomes a felony to own, train, transport, or sell a game cock intending it to fight, to stage or bet on cockfights, or to knowingly let cockfighting happen on your property. The bill also creates a new definition for 'fighting related objects,' meaning gear made or used to train or condition animals for fighting, and makes it a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature to knowingly possess, buy, or sell such gear intending it be used for dog or cockfighting. Spectators and anyone who brings a minor to a dog or cockfight also face escalating criminal penalties. A related section updates Georgia's animal control officer certification law to bar people convicted of dogfighting or 'game cock fighting' felonies from getting certified. The changes take effect once the Governor signs the bill and apply to offenses committed afterward.

• Extends Georgia's dogfighting felony law to also cover game cock fighting, applying the same bans on owning, training, transporting, or selling animals for fighting.
• Creates a new misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature for knowingly possessing, buying, or selling gear intended for use in dog or cockfighting, defined as 'fighting related objects.'
• Sets escalating penalties for people who are spectators at, or who bring a minor to, dog or cockfighting: a misdemeanor on first offense, rising to felony imprisonment and fines on later offenses.
• Keeps existing felony penalties for staging, betting on, or profiting from dog or cockfighting: 1 to 5 years and a $5,000 minimum fine on a first conviction, 1 to 10 years and a $15,000 minimum fine after that.
• Updates Georgia's animal control officer certification law (O.C.G.A. § 4-8-27) so a felony conviction for game cock fighting, not just dogfighting, blocks someone from getting certified.
• Keeps existing exceptions for hunting, herding livestock, law enforcement dog training, and pest control activities.

People who own, train, breed, or bet on fighting dogs or game cocks; spectators at animal fighting events, especially those who bring minors; sellers of animal fighting gear; and people applying to become certified animal control officers in Georgia.

Game cock fighting, which was not previously named alongside dogfighting in this statute, would now carry the same felony penalties as dogfighting, including prison time and fines up to $15,000 for repeat offenses. People who sell or keep specialized cockfighting or dogfighting equipment could also face new criminal charges.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 16-12-37 to add 'game cock' and 'fighting related objects' as defined terms alongside 'dog' and 'minor.'
• Section 1(b) makes owning, training, transporting, or selling a game cock for fighting, or betting on or promoting cockfights, a felony with the same penalty structure as dogfighting.
• Section 1(b) sets felony penalties of 1 to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of at least $5,000 for a first conviction, rising to 1 to 10 years and at least $15,000 for later convictions.
• Section 1(c) applies escalating spectator and minor-presence penalties, misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature first, then felony, to dog or cockfighting events.
• Section 1(e) makes knowing possession, purchase, or sale of fighting related objects intended for dog or cockfighting a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
• Section 1(f) preserves exemptions for lawful hunting, agricultural livestock work, law enforcement dog training, and pest control.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 4-8-27 so a felony conviction for 'game cock fighting,' as well as dogfighting, disqualifies someone from animal control officer certification.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-03-27House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
3. 2025-02-24House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-21House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-20Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
6. 2025-02-20Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2025-02-12Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2025-02-11Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)

• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 20, 2025

   49 yea, 3 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #71

• animal fighting
• cockfighting
• dogfighting
• animal cruelty law
• criminal penalties