ACT Government officials could decide to euthanase a dog before it attacks, under new laws passed in the Legislative Assembly.

The laws were tabled by the Opposition in October, just a week after Canberra woman Tania Klemke was mauled to death by her pet dog.

Under the changes, a dog must be euthanased if it kills or seriously injures a person, except in special circumstances.

But a dog could also be euthanased even if it has not attacked if the Government believes it poses an unacceptable risk to the public and cannot be rehabilitated.

City Services Minister Meegan Fitzharris said the change would allow officials to act before something happened.

"That's an important preventative measure, it's a strengthening of the existing legislation," she said.

The bill was tabled after Tania Klemke was killed by her dog in October. ( Supplied )

"It's really important that we have measures in place … which aren't just about responding to an attack but preventing that attack from happening in the first place."

Other changes include a significant increase in the dangerous dog licence fee, to $750, and ownership bans for those considered "irresponsible" by the Government.

Carers or owners of an attacking dog will also be required to exchange details with a victim or face significant penalties.

Bill passed in honour of late MLA

In a relatively rare move, the Government decided to support an Opposition bill rather than offer up its own.

That comes in part because the bill was championed by Liberal MLA Steve Doszpot, who died last week after a battle with liver cancer.

The Government opted to cooperate with the Opposition in honour of Steve Doszpot. ( ABC News: Jed Cooper )

"It was, I thought, a cooperative way to go about it, rather than have two competing pieces of legislation," Ms Fitzharris said.

"We hope in honour of Steve that we get a good result today."

The Government's support was tied to 55 pages worth of amendments, some of which drew ire from Liberal leader Alistair Coe.

Chief among his concerns was a belief the bill gave authorities too much discretion to return concerning dogs to owners.

"[We] are pleased that Steve Doszpot's bill is going to get up today," he said.

"It's not everything we want and it's not everything the community expects, but it is still progress all the same."