Bill Commons

GA HB 1097

enacted

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

Georgia · 2025_26 · lower

Quick answers

Did GA HB 1097 pass?

Yes. GA HB 1097 has been enacted into law as of 2026-07-01. Latest recorded action (2026-07-01): Effective Date

What is GA HB 1097 about?

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.

Who sponsors GA HB 1097?

Jesse Petrea, Katie Dempsey, Scott Hilton and 2 others are the primary sponsors of GA HB 1097.

Description

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.

Introduced
2026-01-29
Latest action
2026-07-01 — Effective Date
Bill type
bill
Last updated

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Jesse Petreaprimary
  • Katie Dempseyprimary
  • Scott Hiltonprimary
  • Mike Cameronprimary
  • Steven Sainzprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-29

    House Hopper

    introduction

  2. 2026-02-02

    House First Readers

    reading-1

  3. 2026-02-03

    House Second Readers

    reading-2

  4. 2026-02-18

    House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    committee-passage-favorable

  5. 2026-02-26

    House Third Readers

    reading-3

  6. 2026-02-26

    House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    passage

  7. 2026-03-03

    Senate Read and Referred

    referral-committee

  8. 2026-03-18

    Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    committee-passage-favorable

  9. 2026-03-19

    Senate Read Second Time

    reading-2

  10. 2026-03-20

    Senate Third Read

    reading-3

  11. 2026-03-20

    Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    passage

  12. 2026-03-27

    House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

  13. 2026-04-10

    House Sent to Governor

    executive-receipt

  14. 2026-05-11

    House Date Signed by Governor

    executive-signature

  15. 2026-05-11

    Act 444

    executive-signature

  16. 2026-07-01

    Effective Date

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • House Vote #579 - 2025-2026 Regular Session

    2026-02-26 · pass · 164-2

    Member-level votes (162)
    • ADESANYA: yes
    • ADEYINA: yes
    • ALEXANDER: yes
    • ALI: yes
    • ANDERSON: yes
    • AU: yes
    • BAKER: yes
    • BALLARD: yes
    • BARNES: yes
    • BARRETT: yes
    • BARTON: yes
    • BAZEMORE: yes
    • BECKLES: yes
    • BELL: yes
    • BERRY: yes
    • BLACKMON: yes
    • BONNER: yes
    • BUCKNER: yes
    • BURCHETT: yes
    • BURNOUGH: yes
    • BURNS: other
    • BYRD: no
    • CAMERON: yes
    • CAMP: yes
    • CAMPBELL: yes
    • CANNON: yes
    • CARPENTER: yes
    • CARSON: yes
    • CARTER: yes
    • CHASTAIN: yes
    • CHEOKAS: yes
    • CLARK: yes
    • CLIFTON: yes
    • COOPER: yes
    • CORBETT: yes
    • COX: yes
    • CRAWFORD: yes
    • CROWE: yes
    • CUMMINGS: yes
    • DAVIS: yes
    • DAWSON: yes
    • DELOACH: other
    • DEMPSEY: yes
    • DICKEY: yes
    • DONATUCCI: yes
    • DOUGLAS: yes
    • DRAPER: other
    • DRENNER: yes
    • DUBNIK: yes
    • DUNAHOO: yes
    • EFSTRATION: yes
    • EHRHART: yes
    • ERWIN: yes
    • EVANS: yes
    • FINCHER: yes
    • FLEMING: yes
    • FLOURNOY: yes
    • FORD: yes
    • FRANKLIN: yes
    • FRYE: yes
    • GAINES: yes
    • GAMBILL: yes
    • GILLIARD: other
    • GISLER: yes
    • GLAIZE: yes
    • GREENE: yes
    • GRIFFIN: yes
    • GULLETT: yes
    • GUNTER: yes
    • HAGAN: yes
    • HATCHETT: yes
    • HAWKINS: yes
    • HERRING: yes
    • HILTON: yes
    • HITCHENS: yes
    • HOLCOMB: yes
    • HOLLAND: yes
    • HOLLY: yes
    • HONG: yes
    • HORNER: yes
    • HOWARD: yes
    • HUDDLESTON: yes
    • HUGLEY: yes
    • JACKSON: yes
    • JASPERSE: yes
    • JENKINS: yes
    • JONES: yes
    • KAHAIAN: no
    • KELLEY: yes
    • KENDRICK: other
    • LAHOOD: yes
    • LEVERETT: yes
    • LEWIS-WARD: yes
    • LIM: yes
    • LUMSDEN: yes
    • LUPTON: yes
    • MARTIN: yes
    • MARTINEZ: yes
    • MATHIAK: yes
    • MATHIS: yes
    • MCCLAIN: yes
    • MCCOLLUM: yes
    • MCDONALD III: yes
    • MCQUEEN: other
    • MEEKS: yes
    • MILLER: yes
    • MITCHELL: yes
    • MOMTAHAN: yes
    • MOORE: yes
    • MYLES: yes
    • NEAL: other
    • NEW: yes
    • NEWTON: yes
    • OKOYE: yes
    • OLALEYE: yes
    • OLIVER: other
    • O'STEEN: yes
    • PANITCH: yes
    • PARIS: yes
    • PARK: yes
    • PARRISH: yes
    • PARSONS: yes
    • PERSINGER: yes
    • PETREA: yes
    • POWELL: yes
    • PRINCE: other
    • REESE: yes
    • REEVES: yes
    • RHODES: yes
    • RICE: yes
    • RICHARDSON: yes
    • RIDLEY: yes
    • ROBERTS: yes
    • ROMMAN: yes
    • SAINZ: yes
    • SAMPSON: yes
    • SANCHEZ: yes
    • SANTOS: yes
    • SCHOFIELD: yes
    • SCOGGINS: yes
    • SCOTT: yes
    • SEABAUGH: yes
    • SHARPER: yes
    • SILCOX: yes
    • SMITH: yes
    • STEPHENS: yes
    • STINSON: yes
    • TARVIN: yes
    • TAYLOR: yes
    • THOMAS: yes
    • TOWNSEND: yes
    • TRAN: yes
    • WADE: yes
    • WASHBURN: yes
    • WERKHEISER: yes
    • WESTBROOK: other
    • WILKERSON: yes
    • WILLIAMS: yes
    • WILLIAMS, JR.: yes
    • WILLIAMSON: yes
    • WILLIS: yes
    • YEARTA: yes
  • Senate Vote #775 - 2025-2026 Regular Session

    2026-03-20 · pass · 44-0

    Member-level votes (52)
    • ALBERS: yes
    • ANAVITARTE: yes
    • ANDERSON: yes
    • BEARDEN: other
    • BRASS: other
    • BURNS: yes
    • COWSERT: other
    • DAVENPORT: yes
    • DICKERSON: yes
    • DIXON: yes
    • DOLEZAL: yes
    • ECHOLS: yes
    • GINN: yes
    • GOOCH: yes
    • GOODMAN: yes
    • HALPERN: yes
    • HARBIN: yes
    • HARBISON: yes
    • HARRELL: yes
    • HATCHETT: yes
    • HICKMAN: yes
    • HODGES: yes
    • HOWARD: yes
    • HUFSTETLER: other
    • JACKSON: yes
    • JAMES: yes
    • JONES: yes
    • JONES II: other
    • KEMP: yes
    • KIRKPATRICK: other
    • LUCAS: yes
    • MALLOW: other
    • MANGHAM: yes
    • MCLAURIN: yes
    • MCNEEL: yes
    • MERRITT: yes
    • ORROCK: yes
    • PARENT: yes
    • PAYNE: yes
    • RAHMAN: yes
    • RHETT: yes
    • ROBERTSON: yes
    • SETZLER: yes
    • SIMS: other
    • STILL: yes
    • STRICKLAND: yes
    • SUMMERS: yes
    • TILLERY: yes
    • WALKER, III: other
    • WATSON: yes
    • WICKS: other
    • WILLIAMS: yes
  • House Vote #780 - 2025-2026 Regular Session

    2026-03-27 · pass · 160-2

    Member-level votes (161)
    • ADESANYA: yes
    • ADEYINA: yes
    • ALEXANDER: yes
    • ALI: yes
    • ANDERSON: yes
    • AU: yes
    • BAKER: other
    • BALLARD: yes
    • BARNES: yes
    • BARRETT: yes
    • BARTON: yes
    • BAZEMORE: yes
    • BECKLES: yes
    • BELL: other
    • BERRY: yes
    • BLACKMON: yes
    • BONNER: yes
    • BUCKNER: yes
    • BURCHETT: yes
    • BURNOUGH: yes
    • BURNS: other
    • BYRD: no
    • CAMERON: yes
    • CAMP: yes
    • CAMPBELL: yes
    • CANNON: other
    • CARPENTER: yes
    • CARSON: yes
    • CARTER: other
    • CHASTAIN: yes
    • CHEOKAS: yes
    • CLARK: yes
    • CLIFTON: yes
    • COOPER: yes
    • CORBETT: yes
    • COX: yes
    • CRAWFORD: yes
    • CROWE: yes
    • CUMMINGS: yes
    • DAVIS: yes
    • DAWSON: yes
    • DELOACH: yes
    • DEMPSEY: yes
    • DICKEY: yes
    • DONATUCCI: yes
    • DOUGLAS: yes
    • DRAPER: other
    • DRENNER: yes
    • DUBNIK: yes
    • DUNAHOO: yes
    • EFSTRATION: yes
    • EHRHART: yes
    • ERWIN: yes
    • EVANS: yes
    • FINCHER: yes
    • FLEMING: yes
    • FLOURNOY: yes
    • FORD: yes
    • FRANKLIN: yes
    • FRYE: yes
    • GAINES: yes
    • GAMBILL: yes
    • GILLIARD: yes
    • GISLER: yes
    • GLAIZE: yes
    • GREENE: yes
    • GRIFFIN: yes
    • GULLETT: yes
    • GUNTER: yes
    • HAGAN: yes
    • HATCHETT: yes
    • HAWKINS: yes
    • HERRING: yes
    • HILTON: yes
    • HITCHENS: yes
    • HOLCOMB: yes
    • HOLLAND: yes
    • HOLLY: yes
    • HONG: yes
    • HORNER: yes
    • HOWARD: yes
    • HUDDLESTON: yes
    • HUGLEY: yes
    • JACKSON: yes
    • JASPERSE: yes
    • JENKINS: yes
    • JONES: yes
    • KAHAIAN: no
    • KELLEY: yes
    • KENDRICK: yes
    • LAHOOD: yes
    • LEVERETT: yes
    • LEWIS-WARD: other
    • LIM: yes
    • LUMSDEN: yes
    • LUPTON: yes
    • MARTIN: yes
    • MARTINEZ: yes
    • MATHIAK: yes
    • MATHIS: yes
    • MCCLAIN: yes
    • MCCOLLUM: yes
    • MCDONALD III: yes
    • MCQUEEN: yes
    • MEEKS: yes
    • MILLER: other
    • MITCHELL: yes
    • MOMTAHAN: yes
    • MOORE: yes
    • MYLES: other
    • NEAL: yes
    • NEW: yes
    • NEWTON: yes
    • OKOYE: yes
    • OLALEYE: yes
    • OLIVER: yes
    • O'STEEN: yes
    • PANITCH: yes
    • PARIS: yes
    • PARK: yes
    • PARRISH: yes
    • PARSONS: yes
    • PERSINGER: yes
    • PETREA: yes
    • POWELL: yes
    • PRINCE: other
    • REESE: other
    • REEVES: yes
    • RHODES: yes
    • RICE: yes
    • RICHARDSON: yes
    • RIDLEY: yes
    • ROBERTS: yes
    • ROMMAN: yes
    • SAINZ: yes
    • SAMPSON: yes
    • SANCHEZ: yes
    • SANTOS: yes
    • SCHOFIELD: yes
    • SCOGGINS: yes
    • SCOTT: yes
    • SEABAUGH: yes
    • SILCOX: yes
    • SMITH: yes
    • STEPHENS: yes
    • STINSON: yes
    • TARVIN: yes
    • TAYLOR: yes
    • THOMAS: yes
    • TOWNSEND: yes
    • TRAN: yes
    • WADE: yes
    • WASHBURN: yes
    • WERKHEISER: yes
    • WESTBROOK: yes
    • WILKERSON: yes
    • WILLIAMS: yes
    • WILLIAMS, JR.: yes
    • WILLIAMSON: yes
    • WILLIS: yes
    • YEARTA: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:19:40.450420Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=GA&identifier=HB 1097. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.