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Bill

HB 448

Conservation, wildlife; Alabama Good Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation Act established.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ben Harrison

Alabama establishes legal protections for wildlife rehabilitators who care for injured/orphaned animals in good faith, with permitting requirements to ensure care standards.

Currently Indefinitely Postponed
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Bill Summary · HB 448

Legislative bill overview

HB 448 establishes Alabama's Good Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation Act, which would provide legal protections for individuals and organizations that care for injured, orphaned, or sick wildlife. The bill creates a framework to shield rehabilitators from civil and criminal liability when acting in good faith to help animals, while establishing standards and permitting requirements for wildlife rehabilitation activities.

Why is this important

Wildlife rehabilitation fills a critical gap in animal welfare by allowing trained citizens to care for vulnerable animals that would otherwise suffer or die. Legal protections encourage more people to participate in rehabilitation efforts while maintaining public safety standards, and the permitting system helps ensure rehabilitators meet minimum care and health standards that protect both animals and public health.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of liability protections: Questions about how broadly "good faith" is defined and whether protections could shield negligent or inadequate care practices
  • Regulatory oversight and permitting burden: Concerns about whether permit requirements would be too restrictive (discouraging participation) or too lenient (failing to ensure quality care)
  • Disease and public health risks: Debates over whether wildlife rehabilitation could transmit zoonotic diseases to humans or domestic animals without sufficient safeguards
  • State resources: Uncertainty about funding mechanisms for permitting, inspection, and oversight of rehabilitation facilities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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