--- title: HB 331. Animals; prohibit transfer of certain domestic animals at certain locations collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb331 cite_as: HB 331, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb331 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb331.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb331/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70060 date: 2025-05-09 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb330.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb332.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 975 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb331.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 331 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-09 last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 sponsors: - Beth Camp - Leesa Hagan - Joseph Gullett - Mike Cameron - Kimberly New - Sharon Cooper - Lee Anderson text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB331/2025 upstream_id: 1960989 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - animal welfare - pet sales - flea markets - animal control - consumer protection --- # HB 331. Animals; prohibit transfer of certain domestic animals at certain locations ## Text 25 LC 44 3108S/AP House Bill 331 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Camp of the 135th, Hagan of the 156th, Gullett of the 19th, Cameron of the 1st, New of the 40th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to general provisions regarding animal protection, so as to prohibit the transfer of2 certain domestic animals at certain locations; to provide for e xceptions; to provide for3 enforcement; to provide for penalties; to provide for definitio ns; to provide for related4 matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to8 general provisions regarding animal protection, is amended by adding a new Code section9 to read as follows:10 "4-11-10.1.11 (a) For purposes of this Code section, the term:12 (1) 'Consideration' means anything of value, including, but not limited to, cash, credit,13 electronic payment, services, or any type of property or intere st in property. A14 transaction shall be deemed to be 'for consideration' if it occurs in connection with any15 H. B. 331 - 1 - 25 LC 44 3108S/AP payment of consideration or other commercial transaction, including, but not limited to,16 a sale, adoption, rehoming, lease, trade, exchange, swap, or barter transaction.17 (2) 'Transfer' means a transaction in which for consideration a dog, cat, or domestic18 rabbit, or any interest in any such animal, is exchanged, offer ed to be exchanged, or19 advertised for a commercial purpose.20 (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the transfer of any dog, cat, or domestic21 rabbit at any roadside, public right of way, parkway, median, public or commercial parking22 lot or sidewalk, park, recreation area, fair, transient or seas onal flea market, or a similar23 transient market or outdoor location, regardless of whether suc h activity is otherwise24 authorized by any person or entity.25 (c) This Code section shall not apply to:26 (1) The transfer of any dog, cat, or domestic rabbit by a pers on or entity that has and27 produces upon request, whether in paper, electronic, or other form, a valid animal shelter28 license issued by the department;29 (2) Any transfer that takes place at a residence or inside of a veterinarian's office or other30 business establishment;31 (3) The transfer of any dog, cat, or domestic rabbit by a paid entrant as part of an event32 or show sanctioned by a national breed club or association, 4-H program, or similar33 agricultural exhibition; or34 (4) The prearranged transfer between a dog, cat, or domestic rabbit seller and a specific35 purchaser that takes place at a police department, sheriff's of fice, or other similar law36 enforcement facility during daylight hours, unless otherwise prohibited.37 (d) An animal control officer who is an employee of state or l ocal government or any38 sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other peace officer is authorized to enforce the provisions of this39 Code section and to impound any animal subject to a transfer in violation of this Code40 section.41 H. B. 331 - 2 - 25 LC 44 3108S/AP (e) A person found guilty of violating this Code section shall be subject to a fine not to42 exceed:43 (1) For the first offense, $100.00;44 (2) For the second offense, $250.00; and45 (3) For a third or subsequent offense, $500.00."46 SECTION 2.47 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 4-11-1 6, relating to penalties, as48 follows:49 "4-11-16.50 (a) Except as otherwise provided in Code Section 4-11-10.1, 16-12-4, or 16-12-37, any51 person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and52 shall be punished as provided in Code Section 17-10-3; provided , however, that, if such53 offense is committed by a corporation, such corporation shall be punished by a fine not to54 exceed $1,000.00 for each such violation, community service of not less than 200 hours nor55 more than 500 hours, or both.56 (b) Each violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense."57 SECTION 3.58 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.59 H. B. 331 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House bill would make it illegal to sell, adopt out, or trade dogs, cats, or rabbits at roadsides, parking lots, flea markets, and similar public spots, with limited exceptions. ### Plain-language summary Georgia law does not currently restrict where people can sell or give away dogs, cats, or rabbits in exchange for money or other value. This bill adds a new section to the state's animal protection law (O.C.G.A. Title 4, Chapter 11) making it illegal to transfer these animals for consideration at roadsides, public rights of way, parking lots, sidewalks, parks, fairs, flea markets, or similar outdoor or transient locations. The ban does not apply to licensed animal shelters, transfers at a residence or inside a veterinarian's office or business, transfers by paid entrants at sanctioned breed shows or 4-H events, or prearranged sales between a specific buyer and seller that happen at a police or sheriff's office during daylight hours. Animal control officers and law enforcement can enforce the law and impound animals involved in violations. Fines rise with repeat offenses, and the bill also updates the general penalty section (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-16) to note this new, separate fine structure. ### What it does - Creates a new law (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.1) banning the sale, trade, or rehoming of dogs, cats, or domestic rabbits for money or other value at roadsides, parking lots, parks, fairs, and flea markets. - Defines 'consideration' broadly to include cash, credit, services, or any property exchanged in a sale, adoption, lease, trade, or barter. - Exempts licensed animal shelters, transfers at a residence or veterinarian's office, sanctioned breed or agricultural shows, and prearranged sales completed at police or sheriff facilities during daylight hours. - Authorizes animal control officers and law enforcement to enforce the ban and to impound animals involved in an illegal transfer. - Sets escalating fines: up to $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $500 for a third or later offense. - Updates the existing general penalty statute (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-16) to carve out this new offense from the standard misdemeanor penalty. ### Who it affects People who sell, give away, or trade dogs, cats, or rabbits informally in public spaces, including roadside and flea market sellers, backyard breeders, and rescue groups; animal shelters, veterinarians, 4-H and breed club event organizers, and local animal control officers and police who would enforce the new rules. ### Why it matters Georgians who buy or rehome pets at flea markets, parking lots, or roadside stands would need to use a different setting, such as a home, vet office, licensed shelter, or a sanctioned event, or risk fines and having the animal impounded. Sellers using licensed shelters or private locations are unaffected. ### Key provisions - Section 1 adds new Code Section 4-11-10.1, defining 'consideration' and 'transfer' and banning transfers of dogs, cats, or domestic rabbits for value at listed public and transient locations. - Subsection (c) lists four exceptions: licensed animal shelters, residences or vet/business locations, sanctioned breed or agricultural events, and prearranged sales at law enforcement facilities in daylight. - Subsection (d) authorizes animal control officers and peace officers to enforce the law and impound animals involved in violations. - Subsection (e) sets fines of up to $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. - Section 2 revises the general penalty statute (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-16) to exclude this new offense from the standard misdemeanor punishment and corporate fine structure. - Section 3 repeals conflicting laws. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-09) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-09) - Sponsors: Beth Camp, Leesa Hagan, Joseph Gullett, Mike Cameron, Kimberly New, Sharon Cooper, Lee Anderson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70060 > The history, votes, and amendments (975 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb331.md?full=1