SB413 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve French
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Scott Beason Tom Butler George M. “Marc” Keahey Wendell Mitchell Lowell Barron T.D. “Ted” Little Hinton Mitchem Roger Bedford, Jr.Rusty Glover Larry Means Del Marsh J.T. Waggoner Charles Bishop
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Agriculture and livestock, regulation of livestock and animal husbandry, sole jurisdiction of Agriculture and Industries Department, State Veterinarian, duties re livestock diseases, etc., exclusive, cruelty to animals, penalties, Secs. 2-4-1, 13A-11-14 am'd.
Summary: SB413 would centralize livestock regulation at the state level, prohibit local governments from passing livestock care rules on private property, strengthen cruelty penalties, and assign enforcement to the State Veterinarian and related state agencies.
What This Bill Does
It prohibits counties and cities from adopting or enforcing ordinances about the care and handling of livestock on private property. Regulation of livestock and animal husbandry would be placed under the sole jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture and Industries and the State Board of Agriculture and Industries, with the State Veterinarian in charge of enforcing disease-control laws. It strengthens penalties for cruelty to animals, including higher fines for repeat offenses. The bill notes it falls under local-expenditure exceptions in Amendment 621, so it would not require local approval to become law, and it becomes effective after a specified waiting period following passage and the governor's approval.

Who It Affects
County and municipal governments would be prohibited from adopting or enforcing ordinances related to the care and handling of livestock on private property, shifting authority to state agencies.
Livestock owners and private property operators would be governed by state regulations and enforcement (via the State Veterinarian) rather than local rules, with penalties for cruelty to animals potentially increased.

Key Provisions
Care and handling of livestock and animal husbandry on private property would be reserved to the Department of Agriculture and Industries and the State Board of Agriculture and Industries; local governments could not adopt such ordinances, rules, or resolutions.
The State Veterinarian would be appointed from a qualified pool and would enforce state livestock sanitary laws, disease control, and related rules; appointment and salary provisions and professional qualifications are specified.
Cruelty to animals would be defined with enhanced penalties: a Class B misdemeanor, with mandatory minimum fines of $500 on second convictions and $1,000 on third or subsequent convictions.
The bill is exempt from certain constitutional local-funding requirements (Amendment 621) because it creates or amends a crime, and it outlines the effective date after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Agriculture