HB990: HB990 Public Safety, Department of; creation of a program to assist former handlers and adopters of retired law enforcement dogs with veterinary care costs; provide

Retired law enforcement dogs, those that once worked in detection, apprehension, or search and rescue for a state or local agency, often need ongoing veterinary care after their service ends. Georgia currently has no dedicated program to help cover those costs. This bill amends Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to direct the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to create a grant program for this purpose. The program would reimburse actual veterinary expenses for former handlers or adopters, qualifying charities, or qualified law enforcement foundations, once they submit an application, proof the dog served a law enforcement or correctional agency, and documentation from a licensed veterinarian. Funding would come only from voluntary gifts, grants, and donations, not general tax dollars, and reimbursements would be capped at $5,000 per dog per calendar year. The council would write the detailed eligibility rules. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law.

• Directs the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to create a grant program covering veterinary care costs for retired law enforcement dogs.
• Limits reimbursement to actual veterinary expenses, capped at $5,000 per dog per calendar year.
• Restricts funding to voluntary private gifts, grants, and donations rather than state tax revenue.
• Requires applicants to submit proof of the dog's prior service and veterinarian documentation of the care provided and paid for.
• Defines who can receive grants: former handlers, adopters, charitable organizations meeting specific tax-exempt criteria, and qualified law enforcement foundations.
• Authorizes the council to write rules and regulations, including eligibility criteria and application procedures, to run the program.

Former handlers and adopters of retired police or correctional K-9 dogs, nonprofit charities that help care for these dogs, qualified law enforcement foundations, licensed veterinarians who document care, and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which would administer the new grants.

Retired law enforcement dogs often need specialized ongoing veterinary treatment because of their years of physically demanding work, which can be costly for the people who take them in. This program would help offset those costs, though only up to $5,000 per dog per year and only as donated funds are available.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 35-6A-13 to define key terms including 'retired law enforcement dog,' 'veterinary care,' 'charitable organization,' and 'qualified law enforcement foundation.'
• Subsection (c) establishes the grant program and limits its funding to voluntary private contributions, with no special benefit allowed for donors.
• Subsection (c)(3) requires applicants to submit a grant application, proof of the dog's prior agency service, and veterinarian documentation of care and payment.
• Subsection (d)(3) caps disbursements at $5,000 per dog per calendar year and directs the council to set eligibility, application, and monitoring procedures.
• Subsection (e) authorizes the council to adopt rules and regulations needed to run the program.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
2. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
3. 2026-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
4. 2026-03-04House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
5. 2026-03-04House Third Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-01-27House Second Readers (House)
8. 2026-01-16House First Readers (House)

• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)Primary sponsor
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   171 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #610

• law enforcement dogs
• veterinary care funding
• public safety grants
• animal welfare
• Criminal Justice Coordinating Council