SB67 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jimmy Holley
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2020
Title: Motor vehicles, animals, crime to leave an animal in an unattended motor vehicle, immunity to a public safety official who rescues an animal under certain circumstances, Sec. 13A-11-241 am'd.
Summary: SB 67 aims to protect domestic animals in cars by banning unsafe unattended vehicle exposure, while granting immunity to rescuers and adding penalties for cruelty linked to vehicle exposure.
What This Bill Does
It prohibits leaving a domestic animal in a motor vehicle in a way that creates an unreasonable risk of harm, with a safe presumption if the interior is 99 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler. It provides criminal immunity to a person who rescues a domestic animal from an unattended vehicle if specific rescue conditions are met, and it offers civil and criminal immunity to public safety officials who rescue under this act. It adds second-degree cruelty penalties for leaving a domestic animal in a vehicle under certain circumstances, including death, risky temperatures, or signs of heat stroke, and requires proper transport and veterinary checks for rescued animals.

Who It Affects
Pet owners or caretakers of domestic animals (dogs, cats, and other household pets): could face new criminal penalties if they leave a domestic animal unattended in a motor vehicle in a way that creates an unreasonable risk, including situations involving high temperatures or animal death.
Public safety officials and individuals who rescue animals: gain immunity (criminal and/or civil) when acting under the act and following specified procedures; the bill also establishes rescue protocols and post-rescue care requirements.

Key Provisions
Prohibits leaving a domestic animal in a motor vehicle unattended in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm; interior temps of 99°F or less are presumed safe.
Provides criminal immunity to a person who rescues a domestic animal from an unattended vehicle if they meet conditions (assess lock/exit, act in good faith, contact public safety officials, use only necessary force, stay with the animal, and keep it under control). It also grants civil and criminal immunity to the rescuing public safety official.
Amends 13A-11-241 to add cruelty to an animal in the second degree for leaving a domestic animal unattended in a vehicle under risk, for animal death due to the vehicle exposure, or for temperatures over 99°F with signs of heat stroke; defines related thresholds.
Requires rescuers transporting rescued animals to prevent hypothermia or heat exhaustion; if using an exterior vehicle box, check the animal every 30 minutes and take the animal to a veterinarian if signs appear.
Local expenditure clause notes that the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 because it creates or amends a crime; effective date is the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Motor Vehicles