AKC Urges Georgia Breeders to Act as SB 590 Hearing Looms

The American Kennel Club’s Government Relations unit issued a "time-sensitive legislative alert" on Feb. 28, 2026, urging Georgia dog breeders and owners to act before a March 2 hearing on Senate Bill 590. The AKC headline urged stakeholders to "Act Today!" and told readers to contact lawmakers and attend the hearing in Room 307 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta.

In its alert the AKC outlined three main elements it says SB 590 "Would Do": (1) create a new definition of "dog breeder" that would apply broadly; (2) expand minimum standards of care for dogs kept by dog breeders; and (3) limit the total number of dogs a person may possess for "breeding purposes" to no more than 30. The alert characterized portions of the bill as measures that "would potentially create statewide dog ownership limits" and that could "subject owners of intact female dogs and/or small hobby breeders to vague commercial-style breeder licensing requirements."

AKC issued explicit calls to action tied to the committee hearing schedule, saying "Please contact your lawmakers NOW to express your concerns" and asking readers to "request SB 590 not be approved as introduced (scroll down for talking points and lawmaker contact information)." The Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee hearing was scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM Monday, March 2, in Room 307 at 18 Capitol Square, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia, 30334, and the AKC encouraged in-person attendance and comments.

The AKC alert included direct contact information for several state senators as part of its "Why This Matters – Talking Points" section: State Senator Jaha Howard at jaha.howard@senate.ga.gov; State Senator RaShaun Kemp at rashaun.kemp@senate.ga.gov; State Senator Freddie Powell Sims at freddie.sims@senate.ga.gov; State Senator Carden Summers at carden.summers@senate.ga.gov; and State Senator Sam Watson at sam.watson@senate.ga.gov. AKC directed readers to contact members of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and provided those names and emails for outreach.

The AKC alert did not include the full text of SB 590, the bill sponsor or co-sponsors, a complete committee membership list, or the full AKC contact details in the excerpt distributed on Feb. 28. AKC noted that its Government Relations team and the Georgia Canine Coalition "will continue to work with lawmakers to address concerns with SB 590 and will provide updates as developments warrant," indicating further information and follow-up were expected after the March 2 committee action.