HB1408: HB1408 Veterinarians; authorize licensed veterinary technicians to administer antirabies vaccinations to animals

Under current Georgia law, only a licensed veterinarian could administer the antirabies vaccine required for dogs and cats. This bill changes that by allowing a licensed veterinary technician, working under a veterinarian's direct supervision, to give the vaccination as well. The bill amends Georgia's rabies control law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 19 of Title 31) and the veterinary practice law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 50 of Title 43) to update the definition of 'inoculation against rabies' and 'practice of veterinary medicine' so they account for vaccinations given by technicians. It adds a new Code section, 43-50-54.1, spelling out that a supervised technician may give the vaccine. It also updates related language about county rabies fees so they still apply whether the vaccine is given or supervised by a veterinarian.

• Allows a licensed veterinary technician under a veterinarian's direct supervision to administer the antirabies vaccine to animals the state requires to be vaccinated.
• Rewrites the definition of 'inoculation against rabies' in Georgia's rabies control law (O.C.G.A. § 31-19-5) to include vaccinations given by a supervised veterinary technician.
• Updates the definitions of 'practice veterinary medicine' and 'practice veterinary technology' (O.C.G.A. § 43-50-3) to reflect that technicians may now give rabies vaccinations under the new rule.
• Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 43-50-54.1, specifically authorizing supervised technicians to give the antirabies vaccine.
• Updates county rabies fee language (O.C.G.A. § 31-19-7) so the per-dog fee still applies when a veterinarian is directly supervising the vaccination rather than personally giving it.

Licensed veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians in Georgia, pet owners whose dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies, county boards of health that set inoculation rules, and county governments that collect rabies vaccination fees.

By letting supervised veterinary technicians give rabies shots, the bill could make it easier and faster for animals to get vaccinated, since more trained staff would be legally able to perform the procedure alongside veterinarians in clinics and county programs.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 31-19-5 so 'inoculation against rabies' includes vaccine administration by a licensed veterinary technician acting under the new Code Section 43-50-54.1.
• Section 2 updates O.C.G.A. § 31-19-7 so the county's per-dog rabies fee is collected by the veterinarian who administers or directly supervises the vaccination.
• Section 3 revises definitions in O.C.G.A. § 43-50-3, excluding technician-administered vaccinations from the veterinarian-only definition of practicing veterinary medicine and adding vaccination to the definition of practicing veterinary technology.
• Section 4 adds new Code Section 43-50-54.1, the core authorization letting a supervised veterinary technician give the antirabies vaccine.
• Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 455
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-19Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-19Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-16Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)Primary sponsor
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   170 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #603

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 19, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #756

• veterinary medicine
• rabies vaccination
• pet health
• veterinary licensing