McMillan continues to push bill allowing pet dogs in outdoor dining areas
Submitted • May 26, 2020
Restaurant owners can still decide to allow dogs or not
(OBA®) – Though this year’s legislative session was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Foley, said he will continue to push his bill to allow pet dogs in outdoor dining areas of restaurants for a future legislative session.
“The bill was making good progress before all of this COVID-19 mess happened, so I think it would be something we’d want to continue in another session to get it through and get it signed,” McMillan said. “It’s kind of a no-brainer from my look at it, and I haven’t seen any major opposition come out against it.”
The bill, HB 209, passed the House overwhelmingly on March 3, but did not see action through the Senate due to the COVID-19 delays and shortened legislative session.
“Had the COVID-19 crisis not happened, I think the bill likely would have been moved through and signed by the governor well before the end of session,” McMillan said.
McMillan said he was inspired to create the bill after receiving a lot of feedback from constituents that wanted to be able to dine with their dogs in appropriate venues.
“Everybody loves their dogs and often want to bring them with them when they go places,” McMillan said. “Here in Baldwin County, and especially in my district, we’ve got a lot of restaurants that offer outdoor dining, so it just makes sense that we amend the current law to allow folks to bring their furry friends with them and enjoy the great views and good food together.”
McMillan’s bill was a statewide bill that would have affected not only his district in Baldwin County, but food service establishments around the state. He said he had also received backing from the Alabama Restaurant Association.
“This was not just a Baldwin County issue, though that’s who I heard the most from,” McMillan said. “If a restaurant has an outdoor area and wants to allow people to bring their dogs with them, I don’t see any reason why the government should be out there trying to put a stop to that.”
Under the proposed bill, the owners of food service establishments would decide whether to allow pet dogs in their outdoor dining areas. If they chose to do so, the owner would file for a waiver with the State Health Department and agree to follow prescribed rules. Signage stating the designated outdoor dining area available for patrons with dogs would also be required.
“I’m going to keep pushing this bill whenever I have the next opportunity, and I think we’ll see positive results for all Alabamians on this, including our four-legged canine friends,” McMillan said.
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