HR 1109: Mental Health Sentencing and Treatment Alternatives Act; commend advancement by General Assembly; recognize urgent need for sentencing alternatives for Georgians with serious mental illness

This resolution does not change any Georgia law itself. Instead, it states the House of Representatives' position on an issue: that many Georgians in prisons and jails live with serious mental illness without adequate treatment, and that Georgia currently lacks a uniform statutory framework at sentencing to connect people to mental health alternatives. The resolution recognizes and supports passage of a separate bill called the 'Mental Health Sentencing and Treatment Alternatives Act,' which it describes as aiming to ensure continuity of mental health care from sentencing through release, use Medicaid and federal funding, and include oversight measures. It directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to the Governor, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health, and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

• Formally recognizes what the resolution describes as an urgent need for sentencing alternatives and treatment programs for Georgians with serious mental illness.
• States the House's support for passage of a separate bill, the 'Mental Health Sentencing and Treatment Alternatives Act,' without itself creating that framework.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the Governor and several state agencies.
• Does not amend any O.C.G.A. section, create penalties, or provide funding; it is a statement of position rather than binding law.

The resolution speaks to Georgians incarcerated with serious mental illness, correctional systems, and courts, and names the Governor, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health, and the Administrative Office of the Courts as recipients of the resolution.

Because a resolution has no legal force, it does not change sentencing law or create treatment programs by itself. Its practical effect is to put the House on record supporting a specific future bill, which could influence whether that separate legislation advances.

• The whereas clauses describe the current lack of a uniform sentencing-stage framework for mental health alternatives in Georgia.
• The resolved clause states House support for passage of the 'Mental Health Sentencing and Treatment Alternatives Act,' a separate piece of legislation.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to the Governor, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health, and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

1. 2026-02-02House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-29House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-28House Hopper (House)

• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)

• mental health courts
• criminal sentencing
• prison and jail conditions
• mental illness treatment
• criminal justice reform