HB 1408: Veterinarians; authorize licensed veterinary technicians to administer antirabies vaccinations to animals

Under current Georgia law, only a licensed veterinarian can administer the rabies vaccine that the state requires for dogs and cats. This bill changes that by allowing a licensed veterinary technician to give the antirabies vaccination as long as a licensed veterinarian is directly supervising the technician's work. The bill amends both the rabies control law (O.C.G.A. Title 31, Chapter 19) and the veterinary practice law (O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 50) to add this new authority, update the definition of 'inoculation against rabies,' and clarify that the veterinary technician's role does not count as unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine. It also updates the county dog-fee collection rules so that fee can be collected whether the veterinarian administers the vaccine directly or supervises a technician doing so. A new Code section, 43-50-54.1, spells out this authority for veterinary technicians.

• Allows a licensed veterinary technician working under a licensed veterinarian's direct supervision to give a required antirabies vaccination to an animal.
• Rewrites the definition of 'inoculation against rabies' in O.C.G.A. § 31-19-5 to include vaccinations given by a supervised veterinary technician, not just a veterinarian.
• Updates O.C.G.A. § 31-19-7 so the county's per-dog vaccination fee can be collected whether the veterinarian gives the vaccine personally or supervises a technician who gives it.
• Adds a new Code section, 43-50-54.1, creating the specific legal authority for veterinary technicians to administer antirabies vaccines under supervision.
• Revises the legal definitions of 'practice veterinary medicine' and 'practice veterinary technology' in O.C.G.A. § 43-50-3 so a technician's supervised vaccination is not treated as unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine.

Licensed veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians in Georgia, county boards of health that regulate rabies vaccination clinics, county governments that collect per-dog vaccination fees, and pet owners whose dogs and cats need rabies shots.

If enacted, veterinary clinics could use trained technicians, not just veterinarians, to give required rabies shots as long as a veterinarian is directly supervising. This could change staffing and workflow at vet offices and county-sponsored rabies clinics without changing the vaccination requirement itself for pet owners.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 31-19-5 so 'inoculation against rabies' covers vaccines given by a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician under new Code Section 43-50-54.1.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-19-7 so the county's per-dog fee (up to 50 cents) can be collected by a veterinarian who administers or directly supervises administration of the vaccine.
• Section 3 revises the definitions of 'practice veterinary medicine' and 'practice veterinary technology' in O.C.G.A. § 43-50-3 to carve out supervised technician vaccinations and add them to technicians' allowed duties.
• Section 4 creates new Code Section 43-50-54.1, explicitly authorizing a supervised veterinary technician to administer a state-required antirabies vaccination.
• 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 (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-03-19Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2026-03-19Senate Third Read (Senado)
7. 2026-03-16Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
8. 2026-03-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)

• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)Patrocinador principal
• 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. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes4 de marzo de 2026

   170 a favor, 0 en contra (6 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #603

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado19 de marzo de 2026

   50 a favor, 0 en contra (0 sin votar, 4 ausentes)

   Passage: Senate Vote #756

• veterinary medicine
• rabies vaccination
• animal health regulation
• occupational licensing
• pet owners