---
title: SB 590. Animal Protection; protections for dogs possessed for breeding purposes; strengthen
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb590
cite_as: SB 590, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb590
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb590.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb590/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73651
date: 2026-02-26
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb590.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 590
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-25
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Carden Summers
- John Albers
- Russ Goodman
- Randy Robertson
- Mike Hodges
- Ricky Williams
- Jason T. Dickerson
- Sam Watson
- Billy Hickman
- Jaha Howard
- Chuck Hufstetler
- Lee Anderson
- Sally Harrell
- Sheikh Rahman
- Ed Harbison
- Drew Echols
- Bo Hatchett
- Timothy Bearden
- Josh McLaurin
- Emanuel Jones
- Nikki Merritt
- Kay Kirkpatrick
- Chuck Payne
- Clint Dixon
- Nan Orrock
- Matt Brass
- Steve Gooch
- Frank Ginn
- Randal Mangham
- Larry Walker
- Brian Strickland
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB590/2025
upstream_id: 2124828
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- animal welfare
- dog breeding
- pet sales regulation
- animal protection law
---
# SB 590. Animal Protection; protections for dogs possessed for breeding purposes; strengthen
## Text
Senate Bill 590
By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Albers of the 56th, Goodman of the 8th, Robertson of the
29th, Hodges of the 3rd and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to animal protection generally, so as to strengthen protections for dogs possessed for
breeding purposes; to provide a definition; to expand minimum standards of care applicable
to dog breeders; to limit the total number of dogs that may be possessed for breeding
purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
animal protection generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"4-11-10.2.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'dog breeder' means any person who:
(1) Sells or offers for sale any offspring of dogs bred or produced by such person,
regardless of whether such person also sells or offers for sale other animals; or
(2) Exercises custody, control, possession, or ownership of more than four intact female
dogs for the purpose of breeding and selling or offering for sale the offspring of such
dogs.
(b) A dog breeder shall, in addition to any other requirements set forth in this chapter, at
minimum provide each dog for which such breeder exercises custody, control, possession,
or ownership of with:
(1) Adequate housing, including, but not limited to, ensuring that the primary enclosure
of each dog:
(A) Is sufficient in size to permit the dog to lie down while fully extended without the
head, face, tail, legs, or feet of such dog touching the sides of the enclosure or touching
any other animal in the enclosure;
(B) Has an interior height that is at least six inches higher than the head of the dog
when such dog is in a normal standing position;
(C) Is at least three times the length and width of the dog, from tip of nose to base of
tail and shoulder blade to shoulder blade;
(D) Provides access to suitable shelter, including, but not limited to, shelter that:
(i) Is not an open structure or only covered by a tarp or similar material;
(ii) Allows the dog to remain dry during rain or snow and protects such dog from
wind and excessive heat or cold, including, but not limited to, providing sufficient and
clean bedding material; and
(iii) Provides sufficient shade to protect the dog from overheating or other direct
effects of the sun.
(2) Veterinary care that a prudent veterinarian would provide to a dog for the purpose of
preventing, diagnosing, or treating an illness, injury, or disease or its symptoms in a
manner that is:
(A) In accordance with generally accepted standards of the practice of veterinary
medicine;
(B) Appropriate in terms of type, frequency, extent, site, and duration; and
(C) Not primarily for the economic benefit of the veterinarian;
(3) Regular exercise which is sufficient and appropriate for the particular breed of dog;
and
(4) Rest and recovery between breeding cycles in accordance with generally accepted
dog breeding standards.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this chapter, no person shall exercise
custody, control, possession, or ownership of more than 30 dogs for the purpose of
breeding and selling or offering for sale the offspring of such dogs."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## 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 Senate bill would set new care requirements for dog breeders and cap the number of breeding dogs a person may own at 30, adding enforceable minimum standards to state animal protection law.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia's animal protection law (O.C.G.A. Title 4, Chapter 11) currently sets general standards of care for animals but does not spell out specific rules for people who breed and sell dogs. This bill adds a new Code section, 4-11-10.2, that defines a 'dog breeder' as someone who sells offspring of dogs they bred, or who keeps more than four intact female dogs for breeding and selling purposes.
The bill then requires breeders to provide adequate housing with minimum enclosure size and shelter conditions, veterinary care that meets professional standards, regular exercise suited to the breed, and rest between breeding cycles. It also caps the total number of dogs any person may possess for breeding and selling purposes at 30, regardless of any other provision in the chapter. The bill repeals conflicting laws but does not specify a separate effective date, so it would take effect under Georgia's standard rules once signed.
### What it does
- Creates a legal definition of 'dog breeder' covering anyone who sells dog offspring or keeps more than four intact female breeding dogs.
- Requires breeders to give each dog housing that meets specific minimum size, height, and shelter conditions, including protection from weather and sun.
- Requires breeders to provide veterinary care that follows accepted veterinary standards and is not driven by the vet's own financial interest.
- Requires regular exercise appropriate to the dog's breed and rest periods between breeding cycles.
- Caps the number of dogs any one person may possess for breeding and selling purposes at 30 dogs.
### Who it affects
Commercial and hobby dog breeders in Georgia, especially those who sell puppies or keep more than four intact female breeding dogs, are directly affected by the new care standards and the 30-dog cap. Buyers of dogs and animal welfare enforcement officials are also touched indirectly.
### Why it matters
Breeders who currently keep large numbers of dogs or house them in minimal shelters would need to change their operations to meet the new size, shelter, veterinary, and exercise requirements, or reduce their breeding dog count to 30 or fewer, changing costs and conditions for dogs bred and sold in Georgia.
### Key provisions
- New Code section 4-11-10.2(a) defines 'dog breeder' as anyone selling dog offspring or possessing more than four intact female dogs for breeding and sale.
- Subsection (b)(1) sets detailed minimum enclosure requirements, including size at least three times the dog's body length and width and interior height six inches above the dog's standing head height.
- Subsection (b)(1)(D) requires shelter that is not an open structure or covered only by a tarp, keeps the dog dry, and provides shade.
- Subsection (b)(2) requires veterinary care meeting accepted veterinary practice standards and not primarily benefiting the veterinarian financially.
- Subsection (b)(3) and (4) require regular breed-appropriate exercise and rest between breeding cycles.
- Subsection (c) caps possession of dogs for breeding and sale purposes at 30 dogs per person, overriding any conflicting provision elsewhere in the chapter.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-25)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-26)
- Sponsors: Carden Summers, John Albers, Russ Goodman, Randy Robertson, Mike Hodges, Ricky Williams, Jason T. Dickerson, Sam Watson, Billy Hickman, Jaha Howard, Chuck Hufstetler, Lee Anderson, Sally Harrell, Sheikh Rahman, Ed Harbison, Drew Echols, Bo Hatchett, Timothy Bearden, Josh McLaurin, Emanuel Jones, Nikki Merritt, Kay Kirkpatrick, Chuck Payne, Clint Dixon, Nan Orrock, Matt Brass, Steve Gooch, Frank Ginn, Randal Mangham, Larry Walker, Brian Strickland
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73651
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb590.md?full=1