HB277 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Nathaniel LedbetterRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Dogs, dangerous defined, procedure and hearing provided to determine if dangerous, registration, penalties, liability of owner, Emily's Law
Summary: HB 277 sets up a statewide process to declare dangerous dogs, require owner registration and strict confinement, and allow euthanizing dogs that seriously injure people.
What This Bill Does
Creates a process to declare a dog dangerous via a petition filed by local prosecutors; if a dangerous dog causes serious injury or death, it must be euthanized, while a dangerous dog that has not caused serious injury may be returned to the owner if registration and confinement requirements are met. It also establishes detailed registration requirements, imposes penalties for violations (including felonies in certain cases), and provides immunity for involved local officials.

Who It Affects
Dog owners of declared dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs, who must register, meet enclosure and identification requirements, and may face penalties.
Animal control officers, county/municipal attorneys, and law enforcement, who enforce the act, impound dogs, and incur related costs.
People injured by dogs or otherwise affected by dog incidents, who may incur expenses and whose cases could involve owner and dog liability; new dog buyers must be informed if a dog is dangerous.

Key Provisions
Establishes the dangerous dog declaration process through a district or municipal court petition filed by a county or municipal attorney.
Authorizes impounding, quarantine, and possible euthanization of dangerous dogs; owner bears costs for impounding, care, and treatment.
If a dog is dangerous but has not caused serious injury, it can be returned to the owner only after meeting registration requirements and confinement conditions; failure to comply can lead to euthanization.
Defines dangerous dog and proper enclosure with specific containment standards (locked enclosure, sunk or concrete foundation, ventilation, warning sign, size, and continuous locking).
Requires annual dangerous dog registration with rabies vaccination, dog photo, proper confinement, neutering, permanent identification, a $100,000 bond, and other specified verifications; owner may need property owner permission and must sign a control affidavit.
Gives authorities broad enforcement powers, including entering property to verify compliance; prohibits relocating the dog during investigations and requires notification to new owners if the dog is sold or given away.
Imposes penalties ranging from felonies to misdemeanors depending on prior declarations and injuries, plus required costs related to victims and dog care; imposes additional offenses for non-compliance or false reporting.
Provides immunity from liability for counties, municipalities, officers, and certifying officials absent negligence or misconduct; clarifies relationship with other laws and local regulations.
Excludes local funding requirements under Amendment 621 due to creating a new crime or amending a crime definition; sets effective date after governor’s approval and a trigger period.

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