SB168 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jimmy Holley
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Service dogs, harassing, injuring, or causing death of, crime of established, penalties, restitution of certain expenses
Summary: SB168 makes it a crime to harass, injure, or kill a service dog, sets penalties, and requires restitution for related expenses.
What This Bill Does
The bill creates crimes for harassing, injuring, or killing a service dog, with penalties that include Class C for harassment after notice, Class B for injury with reckless disregard, and Class A for death or disability or intentional harm. It defines terms like service dog, harassment, injury, and notice, and requires restitution for medical costs, retraining, lost wages, and other expenses tied to the service dog and user. It allows civil actions and attorney fees for affected parties, and clarifies local-funding requirements do not apply because the bill creates a new crime; it becomes effective the first day of the third month after the governor signs it.

Who It Affects
Service dog users and handlers, who would be protected from harassment or harm to their service dogs and could obtain restitution and civil remedies for losses.
Public individuals and dog owners who interact with service dogs, who would face criminal penalties for harassing, injuring, or killing a service dog and could owe restitution and be subject to civil action.

Key Provisions
Creates crimes targeting harassment, injury, or death of a service dog, with penalties: Class C for harassment after notice, Class B for injury with reckless disregard, and Class A for death, disability, or intentional harm.
Requires restitution for the service dog and user, including medical costs, retraining, lost wages, and other economic losses; allows civil actions and attorney fees; sets the act to take effect three months after passage and notes an exemption from certain local-funding rules because it creates a new crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Crimes and Offenses