HB657: HB657 Mental health; qualifications of recovery community organizations for substance use; provide

This bill started as a narrow proposal about recovery community organizations but the Senate substitute folds in a large set of changes to the Department of Public Health (DPH). Part I repeals or scales back several boards, committees, and reporting requirements: the Electronic Database Review Advisory Committee, the Cancer Advisory Committee and the cancer control officer position, the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Act, the Georgia Commission for Saving the Cure, the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program, and marriage-license-related brochures on AIDS/HIV, sickle cell disease, and family planning. It also makes many DPH reporting duties, such as on stroke centers, cardiac care, and low-income health programs, contingent on the legislature actually appropriating money for them, and it eliminates optional income tax refund contributions to stem cell research. Part II is the bill's original subject: it adds a new Code section to Georgia's mental health law requiring DPH to certify peer specialists, defining several certification types, and setting qualifications recovery community organizations for substance use must meet, including nonprofit status, a recovery-majority board, and use of certified peer specialists. DPH would designate one state-wide recovery community organization, subject to funding. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.

• Requires the Department of Public Health to certify peer specialists who provide peer support services, and limits certification to people trained by approved certification training bodies.
• Sets required qualifications for any organization that wants to be recognized as a recovery community organization for substance use, including nonprofit status and a recovery-majority governing board.
• Directs the Department of Public Health to designate one state-wide recovery community organization to coordinate the network of local recovery groups, subject to state funding being appropriated.
• Repeals several Department of Public Health boards and programs, including the Cancer Advisory Committee, the cancer control officer position, the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Act, the Georgia Commission for Saving the Cure, and the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.
• Eliminates the optional state income tax refund contribution to stem cell research and removes several marriage-license-related brochure and manual requirements tied to AIDS/HIV, sickle cell disease, and family planning.
• Makes numerous Department of Public Health reporting duties to the legislature, on topics such as stroke centers, cardiac care, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, contingent on the General Assembly appropriating money for them.

People seeking certification as peer specialists, recovery community organizations serving people with substance use or mental health disorders, the Department of Public Health and its various advisory committees, probate court clerks who issue marriage licenses, hospitals with reporting duties, and taxpayers who currently contribute to stem cell research through their tax returns.

Georgians in recovery from substance use disorders would encounter a more standardized, state-certified system of peer support, with one designated statewide coordinating organization. At the same time, several long-standing public health boards, committees, and consumer information requirements, from cancer advisory guidance to marriage-license health brochures, would be eliminated or made dependent on future budget decisions.

• Section 2-1 adds O.C.G.A. § 37-1-8, defining certified peer specialist types (addictive disease, mental health, parent, youth) and requiring department certification.
• Section 2-1 lists eight qualifications a recovery community organization for substance use must meet, including having a recovery-majority board and employing certified peer specialists.
• Section 2-1 lets the department designate one state-wide recovery community organization, but only "subject to appropriations."
• Section 1-14 through 1-16 repeal the Cancer Advisory Committee and the cancer control officer position and revise the commissioner's remaining cancer program duties.
• Section 1-17 repeals the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Act (Chapter 42 of Title 31).
• Section 1-19 through 1-20 repeal the Georgia Commission for Saving the Cure and the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.
• Section 1-21 eliminates the optional income tax refund contribution mechanism for permitted stem cell research.
• Section 3-1 sets the effective date of the Act as July 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-03-27Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2026-02-10Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2026-02-09House Passed/Adopted (House)
7. 2026-02-09House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-02-04House Committee Favorably Reported (House)

• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)Primary sponsor
• Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
• Mike Cameron (R, HD-001)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Inga Willis (D, HD-055)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 9, 2026

   165 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #488

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   47 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #906

• mental health
• substance use recovery
• peer support specialists
• public health programs
• Department of Public Health