HR 1704: House Study Committee on Dangerous Animal Attacks and Animal Control Resources in Rural Georgia; create

Georgia's Responsible Dog Ownership Law sets rules for classifying and handling dangerous or vicious dogs, and O.C.G.A. § 4-8-23 covers what happens when a classified dog's owner cannot be found. Local officials are currently protected from civil liability in those cases, but Georgia has no system to hold anyone liable or to compensate people attacked by a stray dog whose owner cannot be identified. This resolution creates the House Study Committee on Dangerous Animal Attacks and Animal Control Resources in Rural Georgia. The Speaker of the House would appoint 11 House members to the committee and name its chairperson. The committee would study these gaps, including the resource needs of rural areas without animal control, and could recommend legislation. It can hold meetings, members get standard legislative allowances for up to five days, and the committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Dangerous Animal Attacks and Animal Control Resources in Rural Georgia, made up of 11 House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study liability and compensation gaps for people attacked by stray dogs whose owners cannot be identified.
• Directs the committee to evaluate what animal control resources rural areas of Georgia may need to address dangerous animal attacks.
• Authorizes the committee to hold meetings and recommend legislation, with members receiving standard legislative daily allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are approved.
• Requires any committee report to be filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished, and sets an abolishment date of December 1, 2026.

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, rural county and city governments that handle stray animals, local officials currently shielded from liability, and residents in rural areas who might be attacked by stray or unidentified dogs.

Georgia currently has no way to compensate someone attacked by a stray dog whose owner cannot be found, and rural areas often lack animal control resources. This committee's findings could lead to future legislation addressing liability, victim compensation, or new funding for rural animal control.

• Paragraph (1) creates the study committee under the name specified in the resolution.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at 11 House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying dangerous animal attack issues and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) sets funding through standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8), capped at five paid days unless extended, funded through the House's existing budget.
• Paragraph (6) requires a report to the Clerk of the House if the committee approves findings or recommendations by majority vote of a quorum.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-19House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-16House Hopper (House)

• Patty Stinson (D, HD-150)Primary sponsor

• animal control
• dog attacks
• rural Georgia
• public safety
• study committee