SB 500 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Behavioral Health Care Workforce Data Base; expand to include data from licensed health care professionals

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 10 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, so as to expand the Behavioral Health Care Workforce Data Base to include data from licensed health care professionals; to revise definitions; to rename such data base as the Health Care Workforce Data Base; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 60 0342S/hss → SB 500/AP* · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated from a House substitute version to the final version passed by the Senate, incorporating amendments to Georgia's healthcare workforce regulations. The primary change involves replacing the term 'Behavioral health care provider' with 'Health care professional' in the definitions section, which broadens the scope of who can be regulated under this act. Additionally, the document was renumbered and re-titled to reflect its status as passed legislation rather than a committee substitute.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened by changing the definition of regulated entities from specific 'behavioral health care providers' to a more inclusive 'health care professional'.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Behavioral health care provider' was replaced with 'Health care professional', expanding the range of individuals subject to the bill's requirements.

TECHNICAL

The document title was updated from 'SUBSTITUTE' to 'AS PASSED', and page headers were adjusted to reflect the final Senate version.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House Mar 23, 2026

How they voted

44–3

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 52

Feb 26, 2026

D Democratic20

18 Yea 2

90% Yea

R Republican32

26 Yea 3 Nay 3

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Act 629

upper

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Senate Date Signed by Governor

upper

Mar 27, 2026

Introduced

Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors