HB473: HB473 Controlled substances; Schedule I; provide certain provisions

Georgia law keeps detailed lists of controlled substances and dangerous drugs in O.C.G.A. Chapter 13 of Title 16. This bill makes technical updates to those lists. It revises the name of one Schedule I substance, removes acetylpsilocin from the Schedule I list by marking its entry as reserved, and adds a new Schedule I substance called ethylphenidate along with a new chemical group classification. The bill also adds a long list of newly identified pharmaceutical products, mostly recently approved drugs and biologics with technical names, to the state's definition of dangerous drugs under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71. This keeps Georgia's dangerous drug list current with drugs that require a prescription. The changes would take effect immediately once the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without a signature.

• Rewrites the listing for one Schedule I controlled substance in O.C.G.A. § 16-13-25, changing its chemical name entry.
• Removes acetylpsilocin as a Schedule I substance by marking its former entry as reserved rather than active.
• Adds ethylphenidate as a new Schedule I controlled substance under Georgia law.
• Adds a new chemical subgroup, the tetrahydrothiophene group, to the Schedule I substance classifications.
• Adds roughly 60 newly named pharmaceutical drugs and biologics to Georgia's dangerous drug list under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71.
• Adds peanut allergen powder to the dangerous drug list as a distinct new entry.

Pharmacists, physicians, and other health care providers who prescribe or dispense the newly listed drugs, law enforcement and prosecutors who classify controlled substances, and patients who use the newly added prescription medications or peanut allergen treatment products.

Keeping these lists current affects how pharmacies dispense certain medications, how law enforcement treats possession of newly listed or delisted substances, and which prescription rules apply to dozens of recently approved drugs, including a peanut allergy treatment product.

• Section 1 revises the Schedule I listing for Methyl 2-methyl-AP-237 under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-25.
• Section 2 marks acetylpsilocin's Schedule I entry as 'Reserved,' effectively removing it from active listing.
• Section 3 adds ethylphenidate as a new Schedule I controlled substance.
• Section 4 adds the tetrahydrothiophene group as a new chemical subdivision under Schedule I classifications.
• Section 5 adds around 60 newly named drugs, including cancer treatments, vaccines, and other therapeutics, to the dangerous drug list under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71.
• Section 6 adds peanut (arachis hypogaea) allergen powder as a new dangerous drug entry.
• Section 7 makes the law effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2025-05-01Effective Date 2025-05-01
2. 2025-05-01Act 45
3. 2025-05-01House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2025-03-13Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2025-03-11Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 3, 2025

   170 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #135

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #303

• controlled substances
• drug scheduling
• pharmacy regulation
• dangerous drugs list