HR 1110: General Assembly; support enactment of legislation to establish and maintain a comprehensive electronic inpatient psychiatric bed registry; urge

This resolution does not create the registry itself. Instead, it formally expresses the Georgia House of Representatives' support for separate legislation, described as proposed in the 2026 session, that would establish and maintain an electronic inpatient psychiatric bed registry. The resolution explains that hospitals, mental health providers, law enforcement, crisis hotlines, and families often cannot find up-to-date information on where psychiatric beds are open, causing delays and higher costs. The resolution asks that any such registry legislation include strong privacy protections, real-time data updates, enforcement mechanisms, adequate funding, and coverage of both public and private psychiatric facilities. It also calls on the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to implement the registry quickly once the underlying bill passes, working with stakeholders and reporting progress to the General Assembly. A copy would be sent to the Governor and the department.

• Formally states the House's support for separate legislation that would create a statewide electronic inpatient psychiatric bed registry.
• Recommends that the underlying registry legislation include privacy protections, real-time data updates, enforcement mechanisms, and funding.
• Urges the registry cover both public and private psychiatric providers and address regional gaps in bed access.
• Directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to implement the registry quickly and report progress to lawmakers once the related bill becomes law.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the Governor and the department.

Psychiatric hospitals and treatment facilities, emergency departments, community mental health providers, crisis hotlines, law enforcement agencies, health plans, patients and families seeking psychiatric care, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

The resolution itself creates no new registry or legal requirement, but it signals legislative support that could shape a future bill meant to help emergency rooms, families, and providers quickly locate open psychiatric beds, potentially reducing delays and costs tied to psychiatric care access in Georgia.

• Paragraph (1) states the members' strong support for enacting legislation to create a comprehensive electronic inpatient psychiatric bed registry.
• Paragraph (2) recommends the future legislation include privacy protections, real-time data updating, enforcement mechanisms, adequate funding, and coverage of public and private providers.
• Paragraph (3) urges the registry produce transparent reporting, address regional access disparities, and remain accessible to patients, families, and practitioners.
• Paragraph (4) calls on the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to implement the registry after the related bill passes and report progress to the General Assembly.
• The closing resolution directs the Clerk of the House to transmit copies to the Governor and the department.

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
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)

• mental health care
• psychiatric bed registry
• behavioral health policy
• hospital capacity
• health data privacy