HB476 • 2026

Conservation; right to care for injured wildlife under certain conditions established

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Harrison
Last action: 2026-02-19
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status label says 'Passed Legislature', but the last action listed is 'Pending Committee Action'. This suggests a discrepancy between the metadata and the actual legislative progress shown in the text excerpt.

Alabama Good Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation Act

This law allows people to care for injured, orphaned, or weak wild birds and animals that are not federally protected without a permit if they follow specific rules.

What This Bill Does

Allows individuals to provide care or treatment in good faith to sustain life or reduce disability for injured, orphaned, or debilitated wild birds and animals that are not federally protected.
Limits the length of care to six months for most animals, but allows up to three years for beavers.
Requires that released animals return to the general area where they were found.
Mandates rabies vaccination for raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats before release if a veterinary facility is within five miles of where the animal is housed.
States that this law does not allow people to practice veterinary medicine or keep wild animals as pets.

Who It Names or Affects

Individuals who find injured, orphaned, or debilitated wildlife
Wild birds and animals that are not federally protected or otherwise endangered
Local city governments (municipalities) regarding their own rules

Terms To Know

Federally protected: Animals listed under national laws as endangered, which this bill does not cover.
Good faith: Acting with honest intentions to help the animal survive and return to nature.

Limits and Unknowns

This law only applies if a person does not break existing laws against cruelty to animals.
The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026.
Local cities may create their own rules about wildlife care as long as they do not conflict with this state or federal law.

Bill History

2026-02-19 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-02-19 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Economic Development and Tourism

Official Summary Text

Conservation; right to care for injured wildlife under certain conditions established

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB476 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB476
G3IK822-1
By Representatives Harrison, Butler, Stringer, Yarbrough,
Paschal, Rehm, Whorton, Underwood, Mooney, Fincher, Myrex,
Gidley
RFD: Economic Development and Tourism
First Read: 19-Feb-26
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G3IK822-1 02/11/2026 ZAK (L)ZAK 2026-442
Page 1
First Read: 19-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing rule, persons must have a permit
issued by the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources to possess protected wild birds or animals.
This bill would provide that individuals may
care for injured or orphaned wild birds and animals
that are not federally protected.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to conservation; to establish the Alabama Good
Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation Act to authorize individuals
to provide care to injured or orphaned wild birds and animals
under certain conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) This section shall be known and may be
cited as the Alabama Good Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation
Act.
(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an
individual may in good faith provide care or treatment to
sustain life or reduce disability to any injured, orphaned, or
debilitated wild bird or animal that is not federally
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HB476 INTRODUCED
Page 2
debilitated wild bird or animal that is not federally
protected or otherwise endangered so that the bird or animal
may be returned to the wild subject to all of the following:
(1) The length of care or treatment of a wild bird or
animal may not exceed six months, except the length of care
for beavers may not exceed three years.
(2) A wild bird or animal shall be returned upon
release to the general area from where it was collected.
(3) A raccoon, skunk, bat, fox, coyote, or bobcat shall
be vaccinated for rabies before being released if a veterinary
facility that treats such animals is within five miles of
where the animal is housed.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to do
any of the following:
(1) Authorize an individual engaged in wildlife
rehabilitation to engage in the practice of veterinary
medicine as defined in Section 34-29-61, Code of Alabama 1975.
(2) Exempt an individual from the crime of cruelty to
animals as provided in Section 13A-11-14, Code of Alabama
1975.
(3) Authorize an individual to keep or consider a wild
bird or animal as a pet.
(d) A municipality may adopt ordinances further
providing for the care or treatment of wild birds and animals
not inconsistent with this section or state or federal law.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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