HB 1097 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Mental health; criminal background, license status, and registry checks for owners, applicants, and employees of certain mental health facilities; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mental health, so as to provide for criminal background, license status, and registry checks for owners, applicants, and employees of certain mental health facilities; to provide for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to submit fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Georgia Crime Information Center for the purpose of background checks to find disqualifying records; to provide for maintenance of personnel files; to provide for procedures relating to applicants or employees with ineligible determinations; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Signed May 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 62 0404S/hcs → HB 1097/AP* · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill's title was updated to reflect its final passage in both chambers, and the document header was changed from the committee substitute version to the final approved version. A key substantive change was added to the definition of 'qualified entity,' expanding the scope of care provision to include situations where an authorized agency provides care, not just the entity itself.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes scenarios where an authorized agency provides care to individuals, broadening the definition of who can be considered a qualified entity under the law.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'qualified entity' was modified to include cases where an authorized agency provides care to a person, in addition to cases where the entity itself provides care.

TECHNICAL

The document title and headers were updated from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed House and Senate' to reflect the bill's final status.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 20, 2026 · House Feb 26, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 10 other

Total votes 47

Mar 20, 2026

D Democratic18

14 Yea 4

77% Yea

R Republican29

23 Yea 6

79% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 11, 2026

Signed into law

Act 444

upper

May 11, 2026

Signed into law

House Date Signed by Governor

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Introduced

House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors