GeorgiaSB 582025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

"Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act"; enact

Sponsored By: John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Marty Harbin (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), John F. Kennedy (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)

Signed by Governor

HealthHealth and Human ServicesGeneral Bill

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Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Emergency driving rights for organ transport

Georgia counts transport of needed staff, organs, tissue, or medical supplies for time-critical transplants as ambulance service. Qualifying organ transport vehicles have ambulance emergency-driving rights during these trips on public streets, highways, and private access roads. Vehicles operating under a valid state ambulance-service license do not need a separate permit to use red emergency lights. Organ transport vehicles are also exempt from certain state emergency medical communications requirements. Services that only provide this transport using emergency organ transport vehicles do not need a medical adviser. The medical adviser exemption also covers counties with fewer than 12,000 residents, based on the 1970 census or later censuses.

Licensing rules for organ transport operators

Organ transport operators must follow Georgia's ambulance-service licensing, insurance, and vehicle standards. License applications must include a photo or description of each organ transport vehicle and air ambulance, plus operating locations. Required details include colors, markings, names, make, model, year, and motor and chassis numbers. Ambulances and organ transport vehicles need minimum motor-vehicle insurance; state-operated vehicles need the higher coverage required for state vehicles. Air ambulances must meet the separate air-ambulance insurance standard. Operators must submit an insurance certificate for approval and show proof before a license is issued or renewed. These rules cover private and local-government operators, with exceptions for nontransporting first responders and counties or municipalities that have not waived governmental immunity through vehicle liability insurance. Vehicles must also meet applicable state public health and public safety standards.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Rick Townsend
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 214 • No: 0

House vote • 3/21/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 161 • No: 0 • Other: 6

Senate vote • 2/18/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 53 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Effective Date
7/1/2025
Senate Date Signed by Governor
5/9/2025Senate
Act 83
5/9/2025
Senate Sent to Governor
4/7/2025Senate
House Third Readers
3/21/2025House
House Passed/Adopted
3/21/2025House
House Committee Favorably Reported
3/11/2025House
House Second Readers
2/20/2025House
House First Readers
2/19/2025House
Senate Third Read
2/18/2025Senate
Senate Passed/Adopted
2/18/2025Senate
Senate Read Second Time
2/10/2025Senate
Senate Committee Favorably Reported
2/6/2025Senate
Senate Read and Referred
1/30/2025Senate
Senate Hopper
1/29/2025Senate

Bill Text

SB 58/AP* (v5)
PDF

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