SB 427: Physicians; limited provisional licenses and a pathway to licensure for certain internationally trained physicians; provide

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Discussed in meetings (15)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 4, 2026

   From 0:20:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 427 would give experienced internationally trained physicians a limited provisional license, with four years of supervised practice before eligibility for full licensure, followed by two years serving an underserved area. The sponsor described education, experience, competency, English proficiency and legal work authorization requirements. The substitute added accredited medical schools to eligible employers, alongside hospitals and rural medical practices. Members questioned possible shortcuts around domestic training, immigration protections, lower-paid recruitment, competency options and access in urban underserved areas. Medical board representatives said applicants would need five years of practice after two years of postgraduate training, or 10 years without that training. They said physician supervision and medical director oversight would support standards and guard against lower-paid recruitment. The sponsor pointed to legal work authorization requirements, but no specific immigration protection was identified. The board's deputy executive director said some federally qualified health centers lacked on-site physicians needed for supervision, but could qualify for the later service period. One member suggested considering physician-supervised centers in the future. A LIBRE Initiative witness supported the proposal, citing language skills and care barriers affecting Latino communities. A Georgia Public Policy Foundation and Georgia Policy Impact witness said 18 states had passed versions and the pathway could ease competition for residency slots. Another member supported the proposal but cautioned that its six-year commitment might limit participation. The committee unanimously recommended passage by substitute.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 17, 2026

   From 0:10:42 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 427 would create a licensing pathway for internationally trained physicians. The sponsor described five years of supervised work in a rural area under a provisional license, followed by two years under an unrestricted provisional license in a rural area or federally qualified health center, before obtaining a regular license. The sponsor said the proposal had been developed over three years and would streamline licensing through the medical board while maintaining quality. No substantive questions or calendar action followed.

3. Senate Rules Committee, February 19, 2026

   From 0:11:55 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair briefly described SB 427 as concerning foreign medical graduates and said it had been discussed previously. Later, the president pro tempore selected it for the next day's floor calendar, saying it would help the healthcare workforce. The committee approved the five-bill calendar by voice vote, which the chair described as unanimous.

4. Senate floor session, February 20, 2026 (legislative day 22)

   From 2:57:33 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 427 would create a supervised licensing pathway for internationally trained physicians to address physician shortages in rural and underserved communities. The sponsor described requirements covering medical education, practice experience, examinations, specialty certification, legal presence in the United States, English proficiency, and professional standing. The sponsor said physicians would practice for four years in a rural county under a limited provisional license, followed by two additional years in underserved areas before progressing through the licensing pathway. The sponsor also described reporting to track participating physicians. An amendment added federally qualified health centers as eligible practice settings, which the sponsor supported. One senator asked whether the goal was better rural access, and another asked whether education standards would match those expected in the United States. The sponsor answered yes to both and said the medical board would oversee qualifications. The Senate adopted the amendment and committee substitute without objection, then passed the amended substitute 45 to 3.

5. House Health Committee, March 9, 2026

   From 0:51:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 427 would create a six-year licensing pathway for internationally trained physicians, with four years of closer supervision followed by two years of reduced supervision. The sponsor cited physician shortages and said the pathway would serve rural and underserved areas, with exceptions for hospitals and medical schools. Responding to questions about competence, the sponsor described requirements for acceptable education, an active foreign license without disciplinary problems, examinations, English proficiency and board oversight. The sponsor said the bill would put supervision requirements into law. Asked about costs and annual funding conditions, the sponsor had no fiscal note. A medical board representative said implementation would require a medical director costing more than $200,000 in salary and licensing and compliance positions costing approximately $150,000. A witness for NAMI supported the bill because pediatricians help identify children's mental health needs. Another supporting witness said 18 other states had similar programs and argued a separate pathway would avoid competition with domestic graduates for residency slots. The committee approved a wording correction adding a missing word so a provision would apply to each offense, then recommended passage as amended. Both votes were by voice.

6. House Rules Committee, March 11, 2026

   From 0:24:03 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 427 reflected about three years of work with the Composite Medical Board and other interested parties on a licensing pathway for internationally trained physicians. The sponsor described English testing, interviews and four years of supervised work in rural or underserved areas, followed by two more years in underserved areas with less supervision before obtaining a license. The sponsor said the proposal would preserve quality, improve access and streamline licensing. The sponsor also said an important word had been omitted in committee and that correcting it in the House would require the measure to return to the Senate for agreement. The word was not identified. No questions were asked, and no vote was shown.

7. House Rules Committee, March 17, 2026

   From 0:43:59 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2699

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed SB 427 on the next day's floor calendar under modified structure rules. The motion was seconded, and no opposition was voiced. There was no discussion of the bill's contents.

8. House floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33)

   From 3:02:17 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2786

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The floor presenter said the substitute for SB 427 would address physician shortages by creating a licensing pathway for experienced internationally trained doctors. The presenter said Georgia ranked 40th in physicians per person and cited support from the Georgia Hospital Association, Medical Association of Georgia and Georgia Composite Medical Board. According to the presenter, applicants would need qualifying education, a clean home-country license, licensing-exam competence, English proficiency, legal work authorization and either five years of practice with at least two years of residency or 10 years without residency. The presenter said participants would work full time for four years under direct supervision in approved rural practices, hospitals, medical schools or federally qualified health centers, without outside work. A medical director at the board would oversee the program and annual reports. The presenter said participants could then seek unrestricted licenses while agreeing to two years in an underserved area. Members praised immigrant medical providers, rural access and connections to a study committee’s work. The House adopted the substitute and passed it, 165 to 2.

9. Senate floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36)

   From 5:28:12 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor asked the Senate to agree to the House substitute to SB 427, which the clerk described as creating provisional licenses and a licensing pathway for certain internationally trained physicians. The sponsor said the House made only one correction: adding the missing word identifying each offense as subject to a fine of up to $500. There were no questions or opposing speeches. The Senate agreed to the House substitute 46-4.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 28, 2026 (legislative day 8), 0:25:50
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13), 0:26:24
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 6, 2026 (legislative day 14), 0:39:04
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23), 0:41:56
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24), 0:39:50
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 10, 2026 (legislative day 30), 0:49:59

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