SB181 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Holley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Animals, motor vehicles, persons prohibited from leaving unattended domestic animal in motor vehicle, civil and criminal immunity for rescuers, Secs. 13A-11-241.1, 13A-11-241.2, 13A-11-241.3 added; Secs. 13A-11-240 to 13A-11-246, inclusive, am'd.

Summary

SB181 would ban leaving an unattended domestic animal in a motor vehicle in a way that creates an unreasonable risk and would provide immunity for rescuers who remove the animal.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits leaving a dog or cat unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm. It adds civil and criminal immunity for any person who rescues an unattended domestic animal from a vehicle, if certain conditions are met. It establishes rescue-related duties, such as contacting a public safety official, using only necessary force, staying with the animal until responders arrive, and monitoring the animal for signs of heat exhaustion or hypothermia during transport to a veterinarian. It also preserves a hunting-related exception for dogs in certain truck beds and explains the bill’s relation to local-funding rules and its effective date.

Who It Affects

• Rescuers and public safety officials who remove a domestic animal from a vehicle would have civil and criminal immunity if they meet the specified conditions for entry, care, and reporting.
• Dog or cat owners and custodians would be subject to existing cruelty prohibitions for leaving an unattended animal in a vehicle and could be liable under the new provisions if they fail to protect the animal.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits leaving an unattended dog or cat in a motor vehicle in a way that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm.
• Adds Sections 13A-11-241.1, 13A-11-241.2, 13A-11-241.3 to provide civil and criminal immunity to rescuers who remove a domestic animal from a vehicle, under defined conditions.
• Rescuer conditions include: vehicle is locked or exit is not available, rescuers have a good-faith belief of imminent danger, contact with and cooperation with a public safety official, using only necessary force, and staying with the animal near the vehicle until responders arrive.
• Public safety officials have immunity for their actions under these provisions and must coordinate response efforts, including contacting a veterinarian when appropriate.
• If the animal bites or injures someone during rescue, the owner is immune from liability unless the owner is violating cruelty laws.
• Rescued animals must be monitored for hypothermia or heat exhaustion; if the vehicle’s exterior box is not heated or cooled, the animal must be checked every 30 minutes and transported to a veterinarian if signs appear.
• Hunting-related exception remains for dogs in the bed of a truck or trailer used primarily for hunting.
• The bill is described as a new or amended crime, and is exempt from certain local-funding approval requirements under Amendment 621; it becomes law on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Animals