Georgia HB 1097 — Mental health; criminal background, license status, and registry checks for owners, applicants, and employees of certain mental health facilities; provide
Georgia, 2025_26. HB 1097: Mental health; criminal background, license status, and registry checks for owners, applicants, and employees of certain mental health facilities; provid
Latest action
July 1, 2026 — Effective Date
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.
Sponsors
- Jesse Petrea — primary sponsor
- Katie Dempsey — primary sponsor
- Scott Hilton — primary sponsor
- Mike Cameron — primary sponsor
- Steven Sainz — primary sponsor
Bill text
HB 1097/AP* Read version ↗
Sen Ctee Sub LC 52 1089S Read version ↗
LC 62 0404S/hcs Read version ↗
LC 62 0404S/hs Read version ↗
LC 62 0311/a Read version ↗
Recorded votes
House Vote #780 - 2025-2026 Regular Session
March 27, 2026 · House · pass
yes: 160 · no: 2 · other: 18
Official vote source ↗Individual member positions (176)
| Member | Vote |
|---|---|
| COX | yes |
| CORBETT | yes |
| COOPER | yes |
| CLIFTON | yes |
| CLARK | yes |
| CLARK | yes |
| CHEOKAS | yes |
| CHASTAIN | yes |
| CARTER | other |
| CARSON | yes |
| CARPENTER | yes |
| CANNON | yes |
| CANNON | other |
| CAMPBELL | yes |
| CAMPBELL | yes |
| CAMP | yes |
| CAMERON | yes |
| BYRD | no |
| BURNS | other |
| BURNOUGH | yes |
| BURCHETT | yes |
| BUCKNER | yes |
| BONNER | yes |
| BLACKMON | yes |
| BERRY | yes |
| BELL | other |
| BECKLES | yes |
| BAZEMORE | yes |
| BARTON | yes |
| BARRETT | yes |
| BARNES | yes |
| BALLARD | yes |
| BAKER | other |
| AU | yes |
| ANDERSON | yes |
| ALI | yes |
| ALEXANDER | yes |
| ADEYINA | yes |
| ADESANYA | yes |
| YEARTA | yes |
| WILLIS | yes |
| WILLIAMSON | yes |
| WILLIAMS, JR. | yes |
| WILLIAMS | other |
| WILLIAMS | yes |
| WILKERSON | yes |
| WESTBROOK | yes |
| WERKHEISER | yes |
| WASHBURN | yes |
| WADE | yes |
| TRAN | yes |
| TOWNSEND | yes |
| THOMAS | yes |
| TAYLOR | yes |
| TAYLOR | yes |
| TARVIN | yes |
| STINSON | yes |
| STEPHENS | yes |
| SMITH | yes |
| SMITH | yes |
| SMITH | yes |
| LUPTON | yes |
| LUMSDEN | yes |
| LIM | yes |
| LEWIS-WARD | other |
| LEVERETT | yes |
| LAHOOD | yes |
| KENDRICK | yes |
| KELLEY | yes |
| KAHAIAN | no |
| JONES | other |
| JONES | yes |
| JONES | yes |
| JONES | yes |
| JENKINS | yes |
| JASPERSE | yes |
| JACKSON | yes |
| JACKSON | other |
| JACKSON | yes |
| HUGLEY | yes |
| HUDDLESTON | yes |
| HOWARD | yes |
| HOWARD | yes |
| HORNER | yes |
| HONG | yes |
| HOLLY | yes |
| HOLLAND | yes |
| HOLCOMB | yes |
| HITCHENS | yes |
| HILTON | yes |
| HERRING | yes |
| HAWKINS | yes |
| HATCHETT | yes |
| HAGAN | yes |
| GUNTER | yes |
| GULLETT | yes |
| GRIFFIN | yes |
| GREENE | yes |
| GLAIZE | yes |
| GISLER | yes |
| GILLIARD | yes |
| GAMBILL | yes |
| GAINES | yes |
| FRYE | yes |
| FRANKLIN | yes |
| FORD | yes |
| FLOURNOY | yes |
| FLEMING | yes |
| FINCHER | yes |
| EVANS | yes |
| ERWIN | yes |
| EHRHART | yes |
| EFSTRATION | yes |
| DUNAHOO | yes |
| DUBNIK | yes |
| DRENNER | yes |
| DRAPER | other |
| DOUGLAS | yes |
| DONATUCCI | yes |
| DICKEY | yes |
| DEMPSEY | yes |
| DELOACH | yes |
| DAWSON | yes |
| DAVIS | yes |
| CUMMINGS | yes |
| CROWE | yes |
| CRAWFORD | yes |
| MCCLAIN | yes |
| MATHIS | yes |
| MATHIAK | yes |
| MARTINEZ | yes |
| MARTIN | yes |
| SMITH | yes |
| SILCOX | yes |
| SEABAUGH | yes |
| SCOTT | yes |
| SCOGGINS | yes |
| SCHOFIELD | yes |
| SANTOS | yes |
| SANCHEZ | yes |
| SAMPSON | yes |
| SAINZ | yes |
| ROMMAN | yes |
| ROBERTS | yes |
| RIDLEY | yes |
| RIDLEY | yes |
| RICHARDSON | yes |
| RICE | yes |
| RHODES | yes |
| REEVES | yes |
| REESE | other |
| PRINCE | other |
| POWELL | yes |
| PETREA | yes |
| PERSINGER | yes |
| PARSONS | yes |
| PARRISH | yes |
| PARK | yes |
| PARIS | yes |
| PANITCH | yes |
| O'STEEN | yes |
| OLIVER | yes |
| OLALEYE | yes |
| OKOYE | yes |
| NEWTON | yes |
| NEW | yes |
| NEAL | yes |
| MYLES | other |
| MOORE | yes |
| MOMTAHAN | yes |
| MITCHELL | yes |
| MILLER | other |
| MEEKS | yes |
| MCQUEEN | yes |
| MCDONALD III | yes |
| MCCOLLUM | yes |
House Vote #579 - 2025-2026 Regular Session
February 26, 2026 · House · pass
yes: 164 · no: 2 · other: 14
Official vote source ↗Individual member positions (177)
| Member | Vote |
|---|---|
| MILLER | yes |
| MEEKS | yes |
| MCQUEEN | other |
| MCDONALD III | yes |
| MCCOLLUM | yes |
| MCCLAIN | yes |
| MATHIS | yes |
| MATHIAK | yes |
| MARTINEZ | yes |
| MARTIN | yes |
| LUPTON | yes |
| LUMSDEN | yes |
| LIM | yes |
| LEWIS-WARD | yes |
| LEVERETT | yes |
| LAHOOD | yes |
| KENDRICK | other |
| KELLEY | yes |
| KAHAIAN | no |
| JONES | other |
| JONES | yes |
| JONES | yes |
| JONES | yes |
| JENKINS | yes |
| JASPERSE | yes |
| JACKSON | yes |
| JACKSON | yes |
| JACKSON | yes |
| HUGLEY | yes |
| HUDDLESTON | yes |
| HOWARD | yes |
| HOWARD | yes |
| HORNER | yes |
| HONG | yes |
| HOLLY | yes |
| HOLLAND | yes |
| HOLCOMB | yes |
| HITCHENS | yes |
| HILTON | yes |
| HERRING | yes |
| HAWKINS | yes |
| HATCHETT | yes |
| HAGAN | yes |
| GUNTER | yes |
| GULLETT | yes |
| GRIFFIN | yes |
| GREENE | yes |
| GLAIZE | yes |
| GISLER | yes |
| GILLIARD | other |
| GAMBILL | yes |
| GAINES | yes |
| FRYE | yes |
| FRANKLIN | yes |
| FORD | yes |
| FLOURNOY | yes |
| FLEMING | yes |
| FINCHER | yes |
| EVANS | yes |
| ERWIN | yes |
| EHRHART | yes |
| EFSTRATION | yes |
| DUNAHOO | yes |
| DUBNIK | yes |
| DRENNER | yes |
| DRAPER | other |
| DOUGLAS | yes |
| DONATUCCI | yes |
| CROWE | yes |
| CRAWFORD | yes |
| COX | yes |
| CORBETT | yes |
| COOPER | yes |
| CLIFTON | yes |
| CLARK | yes |
| CLARK | yes |
| CHEOKAS | yes |
| CHASTAIN | yes |
| CARTER | yes |
| CARSON | yes |
| CARPENTER | yes |
| CANNON | yes |
| CANNON | yes |
| CAMPBELL | yes |
| CAMPBELL | yes |
| CAMP | yes |
| CAMERON | yes |
| BYRD | no |
| BURNS | other |
| BURNOUGH | yes |
| BURCHETT | yes |
| BUCKNER | yes |
| BONNER | yes |
| BLACKMON | yes |
| BERRY | yes |
| BELL | yes |
| BECKLES | yes |
| BAZEMORE | yes |
| BARTON | yes |
| BARRETT | yes |
| BARNES | yes |
| BALLARD | yes |
| BAKER | yes |
| AU | yes |
| ANDERSON | yes |
| ALI | yes |
| ALEXANDER | yes |
| ADEYINA | yes |
| ADESANYA | yes |
| YEARTA | yes |
| WILLIS | yes |
| WILLIAMSON | yes |
| WILLIAMS, JR. | yes |
| WILLIAMS | yes |
| WILLIAMS | yes |
| WILKERSON | yes |
| WESTBROOK | other |
| WERKHEISER | yes |
| WASHBURN | yes |
| WADE | yes |
| TRAN | yes |
| TOWNSEND | yes |
| THOMAS | yes |
| TAYLOR | yes |
| TAYLOR | yes |
| TARVIN | yes |
| STINSON | yes |
| STEPHENS | yes |
| SMITH | yes |
| SMITH | yes |
| SMITH | yes |
| SMITH | yes |
| SILCOX | yes |
| SHARPER | yes |
| SEABAUGH | yes |
| SCOTT | yes |
| SCOGGINS | yes |
| SCHOFIELD | yes |
| SANTOS | yes |
| SANCHEZ | yes |
| SAMPSON | yes |
| SAINZ | yes |
| ROMMAN | yes |
| ROBERTS | yes |
| RIDLEY | yes |
| RIDLEY | yes |
| RICHARDSON | yes |
| RICE | yes |
| RHODES | yes |
| REEVES | yes |
| REESE | yes |
| PRINCE | other |
| POWELL | yes |
| PETREA | yes |
| PERSINGER | yes |
| PARSONS | yes |
| PARRISH | yes |
| PARK | yes |
| PARIS | yes |
| PANITCH | yes |
| O'STEEN | yes |
| OLIVER | other |
| OLALEYE | yes |
| OKOYE | yes |
| NEWTON | yes |
| NEW | yes |
| NEAL | other |
| MYLES | yes |
| MOORE | yes |
| MOMTAHAN | yes |
| MITCHELL | yes |
| DICKEY | yes |
| DEMPSEY | yes |
| DELOACH | other |
| DAWSON | yes |
| DAVIS | yes |
| CUMMINGS | yes |
Senate Vote #775 - 2025-2026 Regular Session
March 20, 2026 · Senate · pass
yes: 44 · no: 0 · other: 12
Official vote source ↗Individual member positions (54)
| Member | Vote |
|---|---|
| JACKSON | yes |
| HUFSTETLER | other |
| HOWARD | yes |
| HODGES | yes |
| HICKMAN | yes |
| HATCHETT | yes |
| HARRELL | yes |
| HARBISON | yes |
| HARBIN | yes |
| HALPERN | yes |
| GOODMAN | yes |
| GOOCH | yes |
| GINN | yes |
| ECHOLS | yes |
| DOLEZAL | yes |
| DIXON | yes |
| DICKERSON | yes |
| DAVENPORT | yes |
| COWSERT | other |
| BURNS | yes |
| BRASS | other |
| BEARDEN | other |
| ANDERSON | yes |
| ANDERSON | yes |
| ANAVITARTE | yes |
| ALBERS | yes |
| WILLIAMS | yes |
| WICKS | other |
| WATSON | yes |
| WATSON | yes |
| WALKER, III | other |
| TILLERY | yes |
| SUMMERS | yes |
| STRICKLAND | yes |
| STILL | yes |
| SIMS | other |
| SETZLER | yes |
| ROBERTSON | yes |
| RHETT | yes |
| RAHMAN | yes |
| PAYNE | yes |
| PARENT | yes |
| ORROCK | yes |
| MERRITT | yes |
| MCNEEL | yes |
| MCLAURIN | yes |
| MANGHAM | yes |
| MALLOW | other |
| LUCAS | yes |
| KIRKPATRICK | other |
| KEMP | yes |
| JONES II | other |
| JONES | yes |
| JAMES | yes |
Legislative history
- Effective Date
- Act 444
- House Date Signed by Governor
- House Sent to Governor
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- Senate Third Read
- Senate Read Second Time
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Senate Read and Referred
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- House Third Readers
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- House Second Readers
- House First Readers
- House Hopper
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