HB 177: Domestic relations; protection for household pets in both family violence and dating violence protective orders; provide

Currently, Georgia's protective order laws for family violence (O.C.G.A. § 19-13-4) and dating violence (O.C.G.A. § 19-13A-4) let courts divide personal property between parties but do not specifically address pets. This bill adds household pets to that personal property provision and lets judges order specific protections for them. Under the bill, courts can award care, custody, and control of a household pet to one party, and can order the other party not to harass or harm the pet, not to take, transfer, pawn, or hide the pet, and not to violate Georgia's animal cruelty law (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4). The bill defines 'household pet' as an animal kept for companionship, excluding livestock, lab animals, working animals, sport animals, or animals raised for commercial use or food. It also swaps the word 'victim' for 'petitioner' in several places in the family violence statute.

• Adds household pets to the personal property that courts can award possession of in family violence and dating violence protective orders.
• Defines 'household pet' as a companionship animal, specifically excluding livestock, laboratory animals, working animals, sport animals, and commercial or food animals.
• Allows courts to order a respondent not to harass, harm, take, transfer, pawn, or hide a household pet belonging to either party or a minor child in the household.
• Allows courts to order a respondent not to violate Georgia's animal cruelty law (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4) with respect to the household pet.
• Replaces the word 'victim' with 'petitioner' in several places in the family violence protective order statute (O.C.G.A. § 19-13-4).

People seeking or subject to family violence or dating violence protective orders in Georgia, their household pets, minor children living in affected households, and the judges and courts who issue and enforce these orders.

Pets are often used as leverage or targets in abusive relationships. This bill gives Georgia judges explicit authority to award pet custody and bar an abuser from harming, taking, or hiding a household pet, closing a gap in existing protective order law.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 19-13-4(a)(8) to let family violence protective orders cover possession of household pets and bar harassment, harm, taking, or concealment of the pet.
• Section 1 defines 'household pet' as an animal kept for companionship, excluding livestock, lab animals, working animals, sport animals, and commercial or consumption animals.
• Section 1 also changes references from 'victim' to 'petitioner' in provisions on eviction assistance and harassment (paragraphs 5 and 9).
• Section 2 makes parallel changes to dating violence protective orders under O.C.G.A. § 19-13A-4(b), adding the same household pet possession and protection provisions.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-07-01Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 189
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-08House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2025-04-02Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
8. 2025-04-02Senate Tabled (Senate)

• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-45)Primary sponsor
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-53)
• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-4)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-99)
• Kimberly New (R, HD-40)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 19, 2025

   164 yea, 3 nay (7 not voting, 6 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #46

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 1 excused)

   PASSAGE: Senate Vote #431

• domestic violence
• protective orders
• pet custody
• dating violence
• family law