Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia SB587: Offenses Against Public Health and Morals; the establishment of an animal cruelty database; provide
Status: Signed into law, May 11, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for the establishment of an animal cruelty database; to provide for purpose and funding; to require the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of the State of Georgia to create, administer, and maintain such database; to provide for minimum requirements; to provide for reporting and forms; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Chapters 5 and 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes against the person and offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for a court order to locate an alleged victim of child or elder abuse; to provide for the establishment of an animal cruelty database; to provide for purpose and funding; to require clerks of court to transmit certain conviction and sentencing information to the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of the State of Georgia…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Chapters 5 and 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes against the person and offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for a court order to locate an alleged victim of child or elder abuse; to provide for the establishment of an animal cruelty database; to provide for purpose and funding; to require clerks of court to transmit certain conviction and sentencing information to the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of the State of Georgia; to require the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of the State of Georgia to create, administer, and maintain such database; to provide for minimum requirements; to provide for reporting and forms; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes against the person, is amended by adding a new subsection to Code Section 16-5-70, relating to cruelty to children, to read as follows: "(f) Where there is an open investigation relating to an alleged offense in violation of this Code section, and the child is moved from a known address to an unknown location, the S. B. LC 60 0368S superior court …