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Hearing on bill limiting warrantless pet seizures draws concerns from shelters and counties
Summary
At a hearing on HB75 — which would restrict warrantless pet seizures and require judicial review before euthanasia — animal-shelter and county representatives warned the committee the bill could strain shelter capacity, require costly veterinary evaluations, and create legal exposure for local governments.
The committee held a hearing on HB75, the "Justice for Pena and Fred" act, which as drafted would limit warrantless seizures of pets on private property and require a judicial hearing before euthanasia when animals are seized without clear owner consent.
Representative Ridley presented the measure and acknowledged the committee substitute had been circulated late. Trevor Santos of the Department of Natural Resources told the panel the department initially had concerns because the bill as introduced could have unintentionally included wildlife regulated under Title 27; he said the sponsor had worked with the department and that the committee substitute may address some department concerns.
A representative of local animal shelters told the committee the bill’s proposed timeline — including a possible 10-business-day hold and a hearing timeline up to 30 days — along with mandatory veterinary assessments and the potential waiver of local sovereign immunity could place an "undue strain" on already overburdened shelters. "The proposed hearing request timeline in '75 stretches up to 30 days, and that would drastically hinder shelter efficiency by prolonging animal holding periods," the witness said.
Alicia Vaughn of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) echoed those concerns, stressing the difficulty county animal-control facilities face in obtaining veterinary services and the administrative burden of additional legal processes. Committee members and witnesses discussed the scope of exemptions in the bill (for wildlife, strays and cases with warrants) and urged more work on the language before any committee vote. The chair said the panel would not vote on the measure that day and encouraged continued negotiations on the substitute language.
