---
title: HB 251. Nurses; certified registered nurse anesthetist to order and administer anesthesia and an anesthesia plan under certain conditions; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb251
cite_as: HB 251, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb251
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb251.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb251/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69864
date: 2025-02-06
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb251.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 251
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-04
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Lauren McDonald
- James Hatchett
- Alan Powell
- Mike Cheokas
- Stan Gunter
- David Wilkerson
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB251/2025
upstream_id: 1955674
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- nurse anesthetists
- medical licensing
- anesthesia care
- hospital policy
- physician liability
---
# HB 251. Nurses; certified registered nurse anesthetist to order and administer anesthesia and an anesthesia plan under certain conditions; provide
## Text
House Bill 251
By: Representatives McDonald III of the 26th, Hatchett of the 155th, Powell of the 33rd,
Cheokas of the 151st, Gunter of the 8th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
nurses, so as provide for a certified registered nurse anesthetist to order and administer
anesthesia and an anesthesia plan under certain conditions; to provide for definitions; to
provide for liability; to provide for a healthcare facility to adopt policies relating to the
provision of anesthesia; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to nurses, is
amended by revising Code Section 43-26-11.1, relating to administration of anesthesia by
certified registered nurse anesthetist, as follows:
"43-26-11.1.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Anesthesia plan' means a plan for anesthesia care, including, but not limited to,
evaluating a patient, referring a patient to other healthcare providers when necessary,
choosing the appropriate anesthetic agent and technique, and ordering medications and
tests before, during, and after the administration of anesthesia.
(2) 'Coordination' means the process in which a physician and certified registered nurse
anesthetist work together to manage a patient's care, including, but not limited to, sharing
information, discussing a patient's diagnosis, condition, and treatment, and developing
and modifying an anesthesia plan to ensure the best possible delivery of healthcare.
(b) In any case where it is lawful for a duly licensed physician practicing medicine under
the laws of this state to administer anesthesia, such anesthesia and an anesthesia plan may
be ordered and administered by a certified registered nurse anesthetist, provided that such
anesthesia is administered under the direction and responsibility of a duly licensed
physician in coordination with a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state.
(c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to restrict the authority of a healthcare
facility to adopt policies relating to the provision of anesthesia.
(d) A physician licensed to practice medicine in this state who is not providing the delivery
of anesthesia shall not be liable for an act or omission of a certified registered nurse
anesthetist administering anesthesia pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 251 would let certified registered nurse anesthetists order and administer anesthesia and develop anesthesia plans in coordination with a physician, rather than under a physician's direction and responsibility.
### Plain-language summary
Current Georgia law lets certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) administer anesthesia when a physician could lawfully do so, but only under a physician's direction and responsibility. This bill rewrites that law (O.C.G.A. § 43-26-11.1) to instead require that CRNAs act 'in coordination with' a physician, a looser standard than direct supervision.
The bill adds new definitions for 'anesthesia plan' and 'coordination,' spelling out what planning and teamwork between a CRNA and physician should include, such as evaluating patients and developing treatment approaches together. It also lets healthcare facilities set their own policies on anesthesia care, and it shields physicians from liability for a CRNA's actions or mistakes when the physician is not the one delivering the anesthesia. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
### What it does
- Changes the legal standard for CRNA anesthesia care from physician 'direction and responsibility' to physician 'coordination,' a less supervisory relationship.
- Allows CRNAs to order anesthesia and create an anesthesia plan, not just administer anesthesia as before.
- Adds formal definitions for 'anesthesia plan' and 'coordination' to clarify what the new working relationship involves.
- Confirms healthcare facilities can still adopt their own internal policies governing how anesthesia is provided.
- Protects physicians from liability for a CRNA's acts or omissions when the physician is not personally delivering the anesthesia.
### Who it affects
Certified registered nurse anesthetists, physicians who work with them on anesthesia care, hospitals and other healthcare facilities that set anesthesia policies, and patients who receive anesthesia during medical procedures in Georgia.
### Why it matters
CRNAs would gain more independence in planning and administering anesthesia, potentially affecting staffing and workflow in operating rooms, especially in areas with fewer anesthesiologists. Physicians would face reduced liability exposure for CRNA-administered anesthesia they are not directly delivering.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-26-11.1, replacing the requirement that anesthesia be given 'under the direction and responsibility of a duly licensed physician' with a requirement that it be given 'in coordination with a physician.'
- Subsection (a) defines 'anesthesia plan' as covering patient evaluation, referrals, choice of anesthetic agent and technique, and ordering related medications and tests.
- Subsection (a) also defines 'coordination' as a physician and CRNA working together, sharing information, and jointly developing or modifying the anesthesia plan.
- Subsection (c) preserves healthcare facilities' authority to set their own anesthesia-related policies.
- Subsection (d) shields a physician who is not delivering the anesthesia from liability for a CRNA's acts or omissions in administering it.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without signature.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-04)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-06)
- Sponsors: Lauren McDonald, James Hatchett, Alan Powell, Mike Cheokas, Stan Gunter, David Wilkerson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69864
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb251.md?full=1