SB160 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris ElliottSenator

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

SB 160 would tighten Alabama's rules on owning large wild animals by banning possession, sale, transfer, or breeding of large felidae, wolves, or bears unless exempt, add stricter requirements for rabies-vaccine status, and establish minimum cage standards with penalties.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal to intentionally or knowingly possess, sell, transfer, or breed any living large felidae, wolf, or bear, except for specified exemptions. It allows people who lawfully possessed such animals before the effective date to keep the animal under conditions, including life-long care if spayed/neutered and registered, plus requirements like records, insurance, and an escape/disaster plan, with notification to law enforcement if the animal is sold or relocated. It sets minimum cage and enclosure standards for these animals, including space, fencing, locking enclosures, and species-specific requirements to improve safety and welfare. It amends the rabies vaccine rules by continuing the prohibition on owning canidae or felidae without a USDA-licensed rabies vaccine, while grandfathering current possessors who meet certain life-long care and registration conditions.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who currently own or might own large felidae, wolves, or bears, who could be prohibited from possession or restricted to life-long care under new rules and subject to new cage standards and penalties.
• USDA Class C exhibitors, nonprofit wildlife sanctuaries, nonprofit animal protection organizations, veterinary hospitals, and law enforcement, which are mentioned as exempt or regulated groups and may need to meet criteria, maintain records, carry liability insurance, and cooperate with authorities.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 3-8-1 to prohibit owning or maintaining canidae or felidae without a USDA-approved rabies vaccine; existing owners may keep such animals for the animal's life if the animal is spayed/neutered and registered; exemptions apply for zoos, circuses, colleges/universities, approved refuges, humane shelters, the Department of Agriculture and Industries, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and veterinary clinics.
• Adds Section 3-8-2 with definitions: BEAR (all bears except American black bears not bred in captivity), LARGE FELIDAE (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, jaguar, cheetah, cougar and hybrids), WOLF (no hybrid wolf).
• Prohibits possession, sale, transfer, or breeding of living large felidae, wolf, or bear unless exempted by specified categories (USDA Class C exhibitors, research facilities, nonprofit sanctuaries meeting criteria, nonprofit animal protection organizations, veterinary hospitals, or law enforcement).
• Provides grandfathering for those who lawfully possessed such animals before the act: requires records, no new acquisitions after the act, no animal-abuse convictions, no revoked licenses, an escape/disaster plan and inventory, proof of liability insurance, and local law enforcement notification before sale/relocation; requires compliance with local laws and imposes a minimum caging standard within one year.
• Outlines detailed minimum caging standards by species (buffer zones, fence height/strength, enclosure sizes, den boxes, locks, enrichment, and specific pool designs for tigers and bears) to ensure safety and welfare.
• Declares that violations of the possession ban are Class A misdemeanors and that the bill's local-funding effects are exempt from budget-related constitutional requirements due to specific exceptions.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage.

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