SB58: SB58 "Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act"; enact

Georgia law currently defines ambulance services around transporting sick or injured patients, but does not clearly address vehicles that rush donor organs, tissue, or medical supplies to time-critical transplant procedures. This bill, called the Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act, changes that by creating a new vehicle category called an 'emergency organ transport vehicle' and folding it into the state's ambulance service laws (O.C.G.A. Title 31, Chapter 11). The bill requires these vehicles to carry minimum motor vehicle insurance, meet the same equipment standards the Department of Public Health sets for ambulances, and be described in license applications. It exempts them from the state's Emergency Medical Systems Communications Program rules and from the ambulance medical adviser requirement, since they carry organs rather than patients. It also lets their drivers use emergency vehicle privileges on public roads and exempts the vehicles from needing a separate Department of Public Safety emergency vehicle light permit, similar to licensed ambulances.

• Creates a new legal category, 'emergency organ transport vehicle,' for motor vehicles carrying organs, tissue, personnel, or medical supplies to time-critical transplant procedures.
• Requires these vehicles to carry minimum motor vehicle insurance coverage and submit proof of insurance before getting or renewing a license.
• Requires emergency organ transport vehicles to meet the same equipment standards the Department of Public Health sets for ambulances.
• Exempts these vehicles from the Emergency Medical Systems Communications Program hearing and appeal rules and from the ambulance medical adviser requirement.
• Allows drivers of these vehicles to use emergency vehicle privileges, such as lights and right of way, when transporting organs under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-6.
• Exempts organ transport vehicles from needing a separate emergency light permit from the Department of Public Safety, mirroring the exemption already given to licensed ambulances.

The bill affects organ procurement organizations and transplant centers that move donor organs and tissue, ambulance service licensees and drivers, the Department of Public Health's Emergency Health Section, the Department of Public Safety, and insurance companies that cover these vehicles.

Organ transplants depend on speed, since organs and tissue remain viable only for a limited window. By giving organ transport vehicles clear legal status as emergency vehicles, with insurance and equipment rules but fewer administrative hurdles than ambulances, the bill could make it easier and faster to move organs to transplant sites on Georgia roads.

• Section 1 gives the bill a short title, the 'Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act.'
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-2 to expand the definition of 'ambulance service' to include transporting organs, tissue, personnel, or supplies to transplant procedures, and adds a definition of 'emergency organ transplant vehicle.'
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-3 to exempt these vehicles from the EMSC Program hearing and appeal process.
• Section 4 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-7 so drivers of emergency organ transport vehicles get the same emergency vehicle operating authority as ambulance drivers.
• Section 5 amends the license application requirements in O.C.G.A. § 31-11-31 to require a description of each organ transport vehicle, including make, model, and identifying markings.
• Section 6 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-33 to require insurance coverage for organ transport vehicles as a condition of licensing, at the same minimum level required for other motor vehicles.
• Section 7 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-34 to require organ transport vehicles to meet the Department of Public Health's equipment standards.
• Section 8 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-50 to exempt organ transport services from the ambulance medical adviser requirement.

1. 2025-05-09Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-09Act 83
3. 2025-05-09Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-03-21House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-03-21House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-11House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-02-20House Second Readers (House)

• John Albers (R, SD-056)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 18, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #59

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 21, 2025

   161 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 13 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #296

• organ transplants
• emergency vehicles
• ambulance services
• public health regulations
• traffic law