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GeorgiaHB 7172025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Medical Practice Act; regulation of the administration of psychedelic-assisted treatment and therapy; provide

Sponsored By: Michelle Au (Democrat), Sharon Cooper (Republican), Karla Drenner (Democrat), Mark Newton (Republican), Deborah Silcox (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Public and Community HealthHealth and Human ServicesGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Psychedelic clinics face licensing and ownership rules

Beginning July 1, 2027, covered Georgia clinics need separate, nontransferable licenses for each location where physicians practice. Licenses renew every two years, with board-set fees and rules for late renewal and reinstatement. New applicants face investigations and background checks; the board can restrict, deny, or refuse to renew licenses. Owners must be Georgia-licensed physicians or certified registered nurse anesthetists meeting competency standards, including advanced airway training. Clinics operating on the act's effective date are exempt only from the ownership rule. Owners and practicing physicians share responsibility for clinic compliance, regardless of business structure. Operating without a required license is a felony upon conviction, punishable by 1–5 years in prison, a $1,000–$5,000 fine, or both.

Psychedelic patients get safety and monitoring safeguards

By December 31, 2026, Georgia's medical board must set rules for equipment, maintenance, provider skills, prescribing, treatment, and emergency care. Rules also cover accurate records, adverse-event reports to the board, continuing medical education, truthful credential advertising, and inspection access. Licensed clinics must have nearby Georgia hospital agreements, documented admitting privileges, or similar arrangements that allow immediate emergency transfer. Hospitals cannot unreasonably refuse transfer agreements. Before treatment for each patient, clinics must check the prescription drug monitoring database and document the check. Clinics must also report every treatment administration to that program. The board can set education requirements for owners and additional physician training standards where anesthesiology staff are absent; other professionals follow their own licensing boards' education rules.

Psychedelic treatment providers need specific qualifications

Only qualified, authorized clinicians can give psychedelic-assisted treatment in covered clinics. Georgia-licensed physicians need advanced airway management training. Georgia-licensed certified registered nurse anesthetists must work under a physician's direction and responsibility. Georgia-licensed anesthesiologist assistants need direct supervision by a licensed anesthesiologist. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants need airway training, at least five years of clinical experience, and express written board approval. Nurse practitioners also need a nurse protocol agreement; physician assistants need the required job description. Outside these authorized provider exceptions, administering treatment without a board medical practice license is unlawful and carries existing statutory penalties.

Some psychedelic treatment settings are exempt

The law covers clinic treatments using psychedelic, dissociative, or related substances, including intravenous ketamine. Covered substances can cause hallucinations, rapid suggestibility, or major changes in perception. The section's requirements do not apply to treatment in hospital-affiliated clinics or FDA-approved clinical trials. They also do not apply to FDA-approved drugs used for their FDA-approved purposes. The law does not authorize drugs or substances that the FDA has not approved.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Michelle Au

    Democrat • House

  • Sharon Cooper

    Republican • House

  • Karla Drenner

    Democrat • House

  • Mark Newton

    Republican • House

  • Deborah Silcox

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Ben Watson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 590 • No: 108

House vote • 3/27/2026

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 153 • No: 3 • Other: 11

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 50 • No: 1 • Other: 3

House vote • 3/6/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 155 • No: 8 • Other: 11

House vote • 3/4/2026

Reconsider

Yes: 159 • No: 8 • Other: 12

House vote • 3/3/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 73 • No: 88 • Other: 7

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/12/2026House

  3. Act 634

    5/12/2026

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/6/2026House

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

    3/27/2026House

  6. Senate Third Read

    3/23/2026Senate

  7. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/23/2026Senate

  8. Senate Read Second Time

    3/20/2026Senate

  9. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/19/2026Senate

  10. Senate Read and Referred

    3/9/2026Senate

  11. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/6/2026House

  12. House Reconsidered

    3/4/2026House

  13. House Withdrawn, Recommitted

    3/4/2026House

  14. House Third Readers

    3/3/2026House

  15. House Third Reading Lost

    3/3/2026House

  16. House Notice to Reconsider

    3/3/2026House

  17. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/4/2026House

  18. House Withdrawn, Recommitted

    4/4/2025House

  19. House Committee Favorably Reported

    3/6/2025House

  20. House Second Readers

    3/4/2025House

  21. House Hopper

    3/3/2025House

  22. House First Readers

    3/3/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 717/AP* (v10)

    PDF

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