SB 427 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Physicians; limited provisional licenses and a pathway to licensure for certain internationally trained physicians; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical practice relative to physicians, so as to provide for limited provisional licenses and a pathway to licensure for certain internationally trained physicians; to provide for definitions; to provide for qualifications and conditions; to provide for penalties, license sanctions, and enforcement; to provide for one or more medical directors; to provide for annual reports; to provide for rules, regulations and procedures; to provide for conditional automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Signed May 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 46 1510S/hss → SB 427/AP* · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill underwent a procedural transition from a House-substituted version to its final Senate-passed form. The primary change involves updating the bill's title and sponsorship information to reflect that it has been approved by the Senate, while retaining the original legislative text regarding medical licensing.

TECHNICAL

The bill's header was updated to change the title from 'The House Committee on Health offers the following substitute' to 'Senate Bill 427' and added the status 'AS PASSED', indicating the bill has moved from the House to the Senate stage.

The list of sponsoring senators was added to the header, identifying Senators Watson, Kirkpatrick, Hufstetler, Jackson, Anavitarte, and others as the authors of the legislation.

The text indicating this was a 'House substitute' and the specific committee offering the amendment was removed, as the bill is now in its Senate-passed version.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House Mar 18, 2026

How they voted

43–3

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 51

Feb 20, 2026

D Democratic20

17 Yea 3

85% Yea

R Republican31

26 Yea 3 Nay 2

83% 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 509

upper

May 11, 2026

Signed into law

Senate Date Signed by Governor

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

14 primary · 0 co-sponsors