SB10 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Service animals, individual with a disability, rights and responsibilities for use in a public accommodation or a housing accommodation, criminal penalties for misrepresentation or denial, interference under certain conditions, Secs. 21-7-1 to 21-7-9, inclusive, am'd.
Summary: SB 10 updates Alabama law to clarify rights and responsibilities for using service animals in public and housing, and establishes penalties for misrepresentation or denial.
What This Bill Does
It defines key terms and specifies that a service animal can be a dog or a miniature horse trained to help a disabled person. It requires public accommodations and housing to allow service animals, with limitations, and sets procedures for identifying service animals in training. It allows limited questions to distinguish service animals from pets, prohibits extra deposits, and ensures trainer access. It creates criminal penalties for misrepresenting service animal use or trainer status and for denial or interference, including escalating penalties for subsequent offenses.

Who It Affects
Individuals with disabilities who use service animals, who gain broad access rights in public places and housing and have responsibilities for care and supervision of their animal.
Public accommodations and housing providers (and service animal trainers), who must permit service animals, may ask limited questions, must not impose extra charges, and may face penalties for misrepresentation or denial of access.

Key Provisions
Defines terms (HANDLER, HOUSING ACCOMMODATION, INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY, MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITY, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, SERVICE ANIMAL, TRAINER) and limits service animals to dogs or miniature horses for these sections.
Public accommodations must modify policies to permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability.
Individuals with disabilities have the right to be accompanied by a service animal in all public places and housing, with no extra charge for the animal, and may not be denied access except for specific safety or control concerns.
Service animals must be trained to perform tasks related to the disability; trainers have access rights and liability parity with disabled handlers; training-specific identification rules apply.
Public accommodations may ask if the animal is a service animal and what tasks it performs, but cannot inquire about the disability; no deposits or surcharges for service animals.
Misrepresentation of service animal use or trainer status is a Class C misdemeanor with 100 hours of community service; a second offense is a Class B misdemeanor.
Service animals may be excluded if out of control, not housebroken, or a direct health or safety threat; alternative access must be provided.
Housing accommodations may request vaccination proof for the service animal; individuals are liable for damages caused by the service animal; allergies or fear are not valid reasons to deny access.
Signage is allowed stating that service animals are welcome and that misrepresentation of a service animal is illegal.

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