Georgia CommonsHR 1949: House Study Committee on Gamecock Fighting in Georgia; create
Last action April 2, 2026 · House Second Readers
A Georgia House resolution would create a five-member study committee to examine gamecock fighting in the state and recommend whether to toughen criminal penalties for it.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Gamecock fighting, in which roosters bred for aggression are pitted against each other, is currently illegal under federal law, and the resolution notes Georgia is the only state where it is not a felony under state law. This resolution does not change any criminal penalties itself. Instead it creates the House Study Committee on Gamecock Fighting in Georgia to look into the issue. The committee would have five House members, three appointed by the Speaker and two by the House Minority Leader, with the Speaker naming the chairperson. It would study the problems described in the resolution, including gambling, drug activity, and violence associated with gamecock fighting derbies, and recommend legislation. Members would receive standard legislative allowances for up to five days of meetings, funded through the House's existing budget. The committee would automatically dissolve on December 1, 2026.
What the bill does
- Creates the House Study Committee on Gamecock Fighting in Georgia to examine the issue and recommend legislation.
- Sets the committee's membership at five House members, three chosen by the Speaker and two by the House Minority Leader.
- Directs the committee to study criminal penalties, gambling, and other problems linked to gamecock fighting derbies.
- Authorizes standard legislative per diem and travel allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days, paid from House funds.
- Automatically abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.
Who it affects
Members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, and more broadly anyone involved in or affected by gamecock fighting, including breeders, organizers, and law enforcement agencies that currently handle it as a lesser offense under Georgia law.
Why it matters
The resolution itself changes no laws or penalties, but it sets up a formal process for lawmakers to gather information and could lead to a future bill making gamecock fighting a felony in Georgia, closing what the resolution describes as a gap compared to other states.
Key provisions
- Paragraph 1 creates the House Study Committee on Gamecock Fighting in Georgia.
- Paragraph 2 sets committee membership at five House members and specifies appointment by the Speaker (three) and Minority Leader (two), with the Speaker naming the chairperson.
- Paragraph 3 charges the committee with studying gamecock fighting issues and recommending action or legislation.
- Paragraph 5 authorizes legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five paid days unless extended, funded through House appropriations.
- Paragraph 6 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.
From the bill
“gamecock fighting is illegal under federal law, and Georgia is the only state in which gamecock fighting is not a felony offense under state law”
“gamecock fight organizers have been known to receive more than $100,000.00 from gamecock fighting derbies, and such derbies are frequently associated with gambling, drugs, violence, and criminal gang activity”
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)
Topics
- animal cruelty
- gamecock fighting
- criminal penalties
- legislative study committee