Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 466: State symbols; marsh tacky horse as official Georgia heritage horse breed; designate
Last action July 1, 2026 · Effective Date
House Bill 466 would name the marsh tacky horse Georgia's official heritage horse breed and the pineywoods cattle its official heritage cattle breed, recognizing their historical role in the state.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law lists a number of official state symbols, from the state bird to the state fruit, but currently has no designated heritage horse or cattle breed. This bill adds two new sections to that part of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 3, Article 3). The bill first lays out legislative findings describing the marsh tacky horse's long history in Georgia, tracing its presence back to the 1500s and noting its use by Indigenous nations, European settlers, and Gullah and Maroon communities, as well as its role in Revolutionary War era guerrilla campaigns. It also notes the breed is now listed as critically endangered by the Livestock Conservancy, with fewer than 2,000 remaining. The bill then creates a new Code section naming the marsh tacky horse the official Georgia heritage horse breed, and a second new Code section naming the pineywoods cattle the official Georgia heritage cattle breed. It repeals any conflicting laws.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 50-3-96) designating the marsh tacky horse as the official Georgia heritage horse breed.
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 50-3-97) designating the pineywoods cattle as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed.
- Includes legislative findings describing the marsh tacky horse's history in Georgia and its critically endangered status.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these new designations.
Who it affects
This mainly affects the symbolic list of official Georgia state emblems. It has practical relevance to breeders, conservation groups, and historians focused on the marsh tacky horse and pineywoods cattle, and to Georgians interested in state history and heritage livestock breeds.
Why it matters
The designation carries no funding, regulation, or enforcement, but it gives official state recognition to two historically significant but now rare livestock breeds, which can raise public awareness and support conservation and educational efforts around them.
Key provisions
- Section 1 sets out findings on the marsh tacky horse's presence in Georgia since the 1500s, its use by Indigenous, European, and Gullah/Maroon communities, and its critically endangered status with under 2,000 horses remaining.
- Section 2 creates new Code section 50-3-96 designating the marsh tacky horse as the official Georgia heritage horse breed.
- Section 3 creates new Code section 50-3-97 designating the pineywoods cattle as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed.
- Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard clause with no specific effect described in the bill.
From the bill
“The marsh tacky horse is designated as the official Georgia heritage horse breed.”
“The pineywoods cattle is designated as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed.”
“The marsh tacky horse is listed as "critical" under the endangered categories by the Livestock Conservancy;”
Discussed in meetings (5)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee, March 23, 2026
From 0:19:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented the Marsh Tacky horse heritage designation as a way to draw attention to preserving the breed, at the request of the Livestock Conservancy of Georgia. The sponsor said Spanish settlers brought the horses roughly 500 to 600 years ago and described their use in farming, wars, Native American communities and Gullah communities. The sponsor said the population had fallen below 2,000. Asked about a personal connection, the sponsor said they did not own one and had agreed to carry the proposal because of an interest in livestock preservation. A committee member proposed adding Piney Woods cattle as Georgia’s official heritage cattle breed. The sponsor supported the addition and said it came from the same preservation group. With drafting assistance, the member revised the amendment to correct the horse provision’s code reference and place the cattle designation in a separate section. The committee approved the amendment and voted to advance the amended bill. No vote counts were announced. A member also agreed to carry the measure in the Senate.
Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026
From 0:31:11 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 466 would designate the Marsh Tacky horse and Pineywoods cattle as heritage breeds to support preservation of breeds the sponsor said were disappearing. The chair added it after the initial calendar list was recited. The committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.
Senate floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 2)
From 2:08:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the substitute would designate the Marsh Tacky Horse as Georgia's heritage horse breed and Pineywoods Cattle as its heritage cattle breed. The sponsor said both breeds had been in the region since the 1500s and described the horses' use during the Revolutionary War. A senator questioned the horses' South Carolina connection, and the sponsor responded that they had long been present across the Southeast. The Senate adopted the substitute and passed it, 41 to 6.
House floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, PM, part 2)
From 2:44:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 466 would recognize the marsh tacky horse as Georgia's official heritage horse breed, and that the Senate added recognition of Piney Woods cattle. The sponsor described the horse's declining numbers and said recognition was intended to support preservation. Asked about the cattle, the sponsor described large horns, origins in Spain about 500 years ago, and a substantial decline in numbers. The sponsor said some Georgia farmers still raise them, with herds also in nearby states. Another member described a family herd as Georgia's largest, and the sponsor agreed. The House agreed to the Senate's replacement version, with the chair announcing 170 votes in favor and one against.
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 382
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
Show full history (18 actions)
- Senate Recommitted (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Mike Cameron (R, HD-1)
- Al Williams (D, HD-168)
- Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
- Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
- Matt Reeves (R, HD-99)
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
Votes
- House voteMarch 6, 2025
168 yea, 1 nay (4 not voting, 7 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
41 yea, 6 nay (3 not voting, 4 excused)
- House voteApril 2, 2026
170 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 4 excused)
Topics
- state symbols
- marsh tacky horse
- pineywoods cattle
- Georgia heritage
- livestock conservation