--- title: SR 255. Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices; create collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr255 cite_as: SR 255, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr255 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr255.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr255/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70750 date: 2025-04-02 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/sr254.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr256.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 429 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr255.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 255 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-04-02 last_action: Senate Passed/Adopted sponsors: - Carden Summers - Randy Robertson - Steve Gooch - John Kennedy - Larry Walker - Sally Harrell - Sonya Halpern - Billy Hickman - Harold Jones - Kim Jackson - Bill Cowsert - Frank Ginn - Randal Mangham - Clint Dixon - Kay Kirkpatrick - Timothy Bearden - Lee Anderson - Ricky Williams - Sheikh Rahman - Emanuel Jones - Jason Anavitarte - Sam Watson - John Albers - Chuck Payne - Shawn Still - Chuck Hufstetler - Brian Strickland - Mike Hodges - Derek Mallow - David Lucas - Drew Echols - Freddie Sims - Josh McLaurin - Ed Harbison - Nabilah Islam Parkes text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR255/2025 upstream_id: 1982089 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - animal welfare - puppy mills - companion animal breeding - legislative study committees - animal shelters --- # SR 255. Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices; create ## Text 25 LC 57 0245 Senate Resolution 255 By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Robertson of the 29th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Walker III of the 20th and others ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous C ompanion Animal1 Breeding Practices; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding may include pup py mills in3 commercial breeding facilities and backyard breeding operations; and4 WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding is the practice of breeding animals5 for financial gain without regard for the animal's health or well-being; and6 WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding negatively impa cts taxpayers who7 often bear the burden of cleanup costs when breeding operations are busted and causes8 financial strain on existing animal shelters and rescue organizations; and9 WHEREAS, stray and feral animal populations can pose a public s afety threat to humans10 with increases in dog bites or attacks, pack behavior in stray dogs, and damage to property11 and livestock, and they are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents; and12 S. R. 255 - 1 - 25 LC 57 0245 WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding contributes to an increase in unowned13 and stray animals and can lead to disease and infection outbrea ks among stray and feral14 animal populations and poses a threat to local ecosystems; and15 WHEREAS, despite state and local laws regulating animal breeding, enforcement remains16 inconsistent and additional education and research on best practices are needed; and17 WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeders may not comply with appropriate18 licensing or permitting requirements; and19 WHEREAS, companion animals raised by these breeders often suffer from inhumane living20 conditions, physical and mental health conditions, and lack of socialization and are often21 victims of illegal puppy trading; and 22 WHEREAS, companion animals raised by these breeders are more li kely to experience23 animal suffering and euthanasia; and 24 WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding can foster beha vioral problems in25 companion animals, which can lead to companion animal abandonment and abuse; and26 WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding can negatively impact neighborhood27 communities and often burden local authorities; and28 WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to establish informed reco mmendations on29 reducing or preventing unscrupulous companion animal breeding to ensure humane treatment30 of animals in breeding practices in this state.31 S. R. 255 - 2 - 25 LC 57 0245 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:32 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee33 on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices.34 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the35 Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The Pre sident shall designate a36 legislative member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.37 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,38 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or39 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.40 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee41 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or42 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and43 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.44 (5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive45 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Offic ial Code of Georgia46 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any47 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. 48 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds49 appropriated to the Senate.50 (6) Report.51 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that52 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the53 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to54 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.55 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for56 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)57 of this paragraph.58 S. R. 255 - 3 - 25 LC 57 0245 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of59 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 60 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with61 the Secretary of the Senate.62 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary63 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.64 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.65 S. R. 255 - 4 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Senate resolution creates a study committee to examine how Georgia can address abusive companion animal breeding practices, such as puppy mills, and recommend possible legislation. ### Plain-language summary This resolution sets up the Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices. The preamble describes concerns about puppy mills and backyard breeding operations that prioritize profit over animal welfare, the burden these operations place on taxpayers, shelters, and rescue groups, and public safety and health risks tied to stray and feral animal populations. The resolution creates a five member committee appointed by the President of the Senate, with one member serving as chairperson. The committee is directed to study these issues and recommend action or legislation it considers necessary. Legislative members receive standard travel and expense allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8), funded through the Senate's budget, for up to five meeting days unless more are approved. The committee must file any approved report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025. ### What it does - Creates the Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices, made up of five senators appointed by the President of the Senate. - Directs the committee to study problems tied to abusive animal breeding, including puppy mills and backyard breeding, and recommend legislation or other action. - Lets the chairperson call and schedule meetings as needed to carry out the committee's work. - Authorizes legislative members to receive standard state allowances for up to five meeting days, paid from Senate funds, unless additional days are approved. - Requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee ends. - Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025. ### Who it affects The resolution directly affects the five senators appointed to the study committee. Its work would eventually touch companion animal breeders, animal shelters and rescue organizations, local governments dealing with stray and feral animals, and Georgia pet owners and communities affected by breeding practices. ### Why it matters The committee itself does not change any law, but its recommendations could shape future legislation on animal breeding licensing, enforcement, and welfare standards in Georgia, potentially affecting breeders, shelters, and local governments that manage stray animal populations. ### Key provisions - Paragraph 1 creates the Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices. - Paragraph 2 sets committee membership at five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson. - Paragraph 3 gives the committee authority to study breeding-related problems and recommend action or legislation. - Paragraph 5 ties legislative member allowances to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and caps paid meeting days at five unless more are authorized, funded from Senate appropriations. - Paragraph 6 lays out reporting requirements, requiring majority approval of any report before filing with the Secretary of the Senate. - Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-04-02) - Last action: Senate Passed/Adopted (2025-04-02) - Sponsors: Carden Summers, Randy Robertson, Steve Gooch, John Kennedy, Larry Walker, Sally Harrell, Sonya Halpern, Billy Hickman, Harold Jones, Kim Jackson, Bill Cowsert, Frank Ginn, Randal Mangham, Clint Dixon, Kay Kirkpatrick, Timothy Bearden, Lee Anderson, Ricky Williams, Sheikh Rahman, Emanuel Jones, Jason Anavitarte, Sam Watson, John Albers, Chuck Payne, Shawn Still, Chuck Hufstetler, Brian Strickland, Mike Hodges, Derek Mallow, David Lucas, Drew Echols, Freddie Sims, Josh McLaurin, Ed Harbison, Nabilah Islam Parkes - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70750 > The history, votes, and amendments (429 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr255.md?full=1