HB466: HB466 State symbols; marsh tacky horse as official Georgia heritage horse breed; designate

Georgia law already recognizes a number of official state symbols under Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. This bill adds two new heritage animal designations to that list. It names the marsh tacky horse, a breed with roots in Georgia tracing back to the 1500s and historically used by Indigenous nations, European settlers, and Gullah and Maroon communities, as the official Georgia heritage horse breed. It also names the pineywoods cattle as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed. The bill includes legislative findings describing the marsh tacky horse's history, including its use during General Francis Marion's Revolutionary War campaigns and its decline after larger cattle breeds were introduced during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era. It notes the breed is listed as critically endangered by the Livestock Conservancy, with fewer than 2,000 remaining. The bill adds two new Code sections, O.C.G.A. §§ 50-3-96 and 50-3-97, to make these designations official, and repeals any conflicting laws.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 50-3-96) naming the marsh tacky horse as the official Georgia heritage horse breed.
• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 50-3-97) naming the pineywoods cattle as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed.
• States legislative findings about the marsh tacky horse's history in Georgia dating to the 1500s and its use by Indigenous, European, Maroon, and Gullah communities.
• Notes the marsh tacky horse is listed as critically endangered by the Livestock Conservancy, with fewer than 2,000 left, as part of the rationale for the designation.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with these new designations.

The designation primarily affects the symbolic recognition of Georgia's state history and heritage rather than regulating any industry. It may be of particular interest to horse and cattle breed enthusiasts, historians, agricultural heritage groups, and organizations working to preserve rare livestock breeds like the Livestock Conservancy.

The bill does not change any regulations, funding, or enforcement; it simply gives official state recognition to two historic animal breeds. That recognition can raise public awareness of the breeds' history and endangered status, which may support conservation and educational efforts, though the law itself creates no new programs.

• Section 1 lays out legislative findings on the marsh tacky horse's history in Georgia since the 1500s and its use by Indigenous nations, European settlers, and Maroon and Gullah communities.
• Section 1 also notes the breed's use by General Francis Marion during Revolutionary War campaigns and its decline in the 1930s as larger horse breeds became preferred.
• Section 1 states the marsh tacky horse is listed as critically endangered by the Livestock Conservancy, with fewer than 2,000 remaining.
• Section 2 creates O.C.G.A. § 50-3-96, designating the marsh tacky horse as the official Georgia heritage horse breed.
• Section 3 creates O.C.G.A. § 50-3-97, designating the pineywoods cattle as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 382
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-04-02House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)

• Mike Cameron (R, HD-001)Primary sponsor
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2025

   168 yea, 1 nay (4 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #223

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   41 yea, 6 nay (3 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #904

3. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2026

   170 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #863

• state symbols
• marsh tacky horse
• pineywoods cattle
• Georgia heritage
• agricultural history