HB668: HB668 Crimes and offenses; change references to assistance and guide dogs to service dogs

Georgia law has long used separate terms such as "assistance dog," "guide dog," and "leader dog" across different statutes covering crimes, disability rights, and traffic rules. HB 668 standardizes this language by replacing most of those terms with "service dog" throughout Title 16 (crimes), Chapter 4 of Title 30 (rights of people with disabilities), and Chapter 6 of Title 40 (rules of the road). Beyond the terminology change, the bill restructures the criminal penalties for harming a service dog into three tiers: interfering with a service dog (misdemeanor), harming a service dog (aggravated misdemeanor), and aggravated harming that kills or disables the dog (a felony with a two to ten year prison term and a mandatory minimum). It also updates the rules for training and raising service dogs, requires restitution covering veterinary costs and replacement value when a dog is killed or disabled, and creates a new misdemeanor for falsely claiming a need for a service dog. The bill is named the "Mara Jade Act" and repeals conflicting laws.

• Replaces references to "assistance dog" and "guide dog" with "service dog" across Georgia's criminal code, disability rights law, and traffic rules.
• Creates three tiers of criminal offenses for mistreating a service dog: interfering (misdemeanor), harming (aggravated misdemeanor), and aggravated harming that kills or disables the dog (felony).
• Sets a felony penalty of two to ten years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine for killing or disabling a service dog, with a mandatory minimum two years that cannot be suspended except by agreement between prosecutor and defendant.
• Requires courts to order restitution covering veterinary costs, retraining costs, and the dog's full replacement value if it dies or can no longer work.
• Adds a new misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature for anyone who falsely claims to need a service dog or falsely claims to be a trainer to get accommodations.
• Updates the definitions and rules for owner training, trainers, and dogs still in training, including requirements for leashes, identification, and control.

People with disabilities who use service dogs, service dog trainers and puppy raisers, businesses and public transit operators that must accommodate service dogs, drivers who must yield to pedestrians with service dogs, and anyone accused of harassing, injuring, or misrepresenting the need for a service dog.

People who rely on service dogs would gain clearer, updated legal protections and a felony-level penalty for anyone who kills or seriously injures their dog, plus a guaranteed path to recover replacement costs. Businesses, drivers, and trainers would also operate under more consistent statewide terminology and rules.

• Section 1 names the bill the "Mara Jade Act."
• Section 2 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 16-11-107.1 to create tiered offenses for interfering with, harming, or fatally injuring a service dog, with penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony carrying two to ten years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
• Section 2 also requires restitution for veterinary costs, retraining, and the service dog's full replacement value when a dog dies or can no longer perform its duties.
• Section 3 updates O.C.G.A. § 16-12-120 to allow service dogs on public transit under the new terminology.
• Section 4 rewrites definitions in O.C.G.A. § 30-4-1, defining "service dog," "owner training," and "trainer," and removing the separate "assistance dog" category.
• Section 5 revises O.C.G.A. § 30-4-2 to set rules for accompanying, training, and raising service dogs, including leash, identification, and control requirements.
• Section 7 adds a new misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature in O.C.G.A. § 30-4-4 for people who falsely claim a need for a service dog or falsely claim to be a trainer.
• Section 8 updates O.C.G.A. § 40-6-94 so drivers must yield to pedestrians accompanied by a "service dog" instead of a "guide dog."

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 440
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-31House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-03-27Senate Taken from Table (Senate)

• Brad Thomas (R, HD-021)Primary sponsor
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)
• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)
• Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)
• Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2026

   168 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 8 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #673

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   26 yea, 22 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #835

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #848

4. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2026

   168 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 7 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #811

• service dogs
• disability rights
• animal cruelty penalties
• criminal law
• traffic rules