HB244 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Mike Ball
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Animals, required rabies vaccines for certain canidae and felidae, further provided for, possession of certain large felidae, wolves, or bears, prohibited under certain conditions, minimum caging requirements, penalties, Secs. 3-8-1 am'd; Sec. 3-8-2 added.
Summary: HB 244 tightens Alabama's rules on keeping canidae and felidae, requires rabies vaccines for certain animals, bans possession of large felidae, wolves, or bears with specific exceptions, and sets strict cage standards and penalties.
What This Bill Does
It makes it illegal to own or maintain any canidae or felidae without a USDA-licensed rabies vaccine, though current owners may keep such animals lifelong if they are spayed/neutered and registered. It adds a new rule that it is unlawful to possess, sell, transfer, or breed living large felidae, wolves, or bears, with several exceptions for approved exhibitors, research facilities, sanctuaries, nonprofit groups, veterinary hospitals, law enforcement, and film productions. It provides conditions for those who already own these animals to continue possession, including records, not acquiring more animals, liability insurance, a $1 million surety bond, escape and disaster planning, and minimum cage standards within a year. It also sets detailed minimum enclosure requirements for these animals and assigns penalties for violations, while noting a constitutional funding exception for local governments.

Who It Affects
Current owners of canidae or felidae without USDA rabies vaccines: allowed to keep the animal only if it is life-long, spayed/neutered, and registered; otherwise illegal
Owners of large felidae, wolves, or bears: would be unlawful to possess, sell, transfer, or breed unless they qualify for listed exemptions or meet strict conditions (records, insurance, bonding, escape plan, and cage standards)
Exempt groups and facilities (USDA Class C exhibitors, research facilities, qualifying wildlife sanctuaries, nonprofit animal protection organizations, veterinary hospitals, law enforcement, and film/TV productions): may possess or handle these animals under specified rules
Local governments and enforcement agencies: tasked with enforcing the new rules, inspections, and potential seizing of animals, with a funding provision related to local expenditures

Key Provisions
Amends Section 3-8-1 to make it illegal to own, maintain, sell, or trade any canidae or felidae without a USDA-licensed rabies vaccine, with a life-long exception for current owners who are spayed/neutered and registered; exemptions apply to zoos, circuses, colleges/universities, certain refuges, humane shelters, or veterinary clinics
Adds Section 3-8-2 defining terms (bear, large felidae, wolf) and prohibiting possession, sale, transfer, or breeding of these animals except for specified exemptions such as certain exhibitors, research facilities, sanctuaries, nonprofit organizations, veterinary hospitals, law enforcement, and film productions
Establishes criteria for exemptions (e.g., USDA Class C exhibitor requirements, liability insurance, current inventory, safety/disaster plans, and law-enforcement access; certain facilities must meet strict standards to qualify)
Provides for grandfathering provisions for those who lawfully possessed these animals before the act, subject to conditions (records, no new acquisitions, insurance, notification, bonding, and minimum caging standards) and requires minimum enclosure standards for each animal type (size, fencing, locking, enrichment), with enforcement powers and a Class A misdemeanor penalty for violations; includes a local-funding-related constitutional exemption

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