--- title: SB 58. "Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act"; enact collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sb58 cite_as: SB 58, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb58 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb58.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb58/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69637 date: 2025-05-09 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb57.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb59.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 950 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb58.md?full=1 bill_number: SB 58 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-09 last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 sponsors: - John Albers - Chuck Hufstetler - Kay Kirkpatrick - Ben Watson - John Kennedy - Carden Summers - Jason Anavitarte - Billy Hickman - Frank Ginn - Max Burns - Ricky Williams - Bill Cowsert - Chuck Payne - Drew Echols - Sam Watson - Timothy Bearden - Shawn Still - Marty Harbin - Russ Goodman - Lee Anderson - Rick Townsend text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB58/2025 upstream_id: 1947568 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - organ transplants - emergency vehicles - ambulance services - public health regulations - traffic law --- # SB 58. "Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act"; enact ## Text 25 LC 39 4531 Senate Bill 58 By: Senators Albers of the 56th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Watson of the 1st, Kennedy of the 18th and others AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 emergency medical services, so as to provide for the licensing and operation of emergency2 organ transport vehicles as ambulance services; to provide for license application; to provide3 for insurance coverage requirements; to require compliance with rules and regulations of the4 Department of Public Health by such vehicles; to exempt emergency organ transport vehicles5 from requirements relative to the Emergency Medical Systems Com munications (EMSC)6 Program and a medical adviser; to provide for the operation of such vehicles on public7 roadways; to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Ann otated, relating to motor8 vehicles and traffic, so as to exempt emergency organ transport vehicles from those vehicles9 required to obtain an emergency vehicle permit from the Departm ent of Public Safety; to10 revise and provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters;11 to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:13 SECTION 1.14 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs15 and Personnel Act."16 S. B. 58 - 1 - 25 LC 39 4531 SECTION 2.17 Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotate d, relating to emergency18 medical services, is amended in Code Section 31-11-2, relating to definitions, by revising19 paragraph (4) and by adding a new paragraph to read as follows:20 "(4) 'Ambulance service' means:21 (A) The providing of emergency care and transportation on the public streets and22 highways of this state for a wounded, injured, sick, invalid, o r incapacitated human23 being to or from a place where medical or hospital care is furnished;24 (B) The provision of any air ambulance service; or25 (C) The provision of transportation services on the public streets and highways of this26 state for the transport of necessary personnel, organs, tissue, or medical supplies to a27 time-critical organ transplant procedure; or28 (D) The provision of services specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this29 paragraph."30 "(9.1) 'Emergency organ transplant vehicle' means a motor vehicle that is intended to be31 used for the transport of necessary personnel, organs, tissue, or medical supplies to a32 time-critical organ transplant procedure."33 SECTION 3.34 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 31-11-3, relating to recommendations by35 local coordinating entity as to administration of EMSC Program and hearing and appeal, by36 revising subsection (g) as follows:37 "(g) This Code section shall not apply to air ambulances, or air ambulance services, or38 emergency organ transport vehicles."39 S. B. 58 - 2 - 25 LC 39 4531 SECTION 4.40 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 31-11- 7, relating to exercise of41 emergency vehicle privileges by ambulance drivers, as follows:42 "31-11-7.43 (a) The driver of an ambulance on the public streets, highways, and private access roads44 of this state, when responding to an emergency call or while transporting a patient, is shall45 be authorized to operate the ambulance as an emergency vehicle pursuant to Code Section46 40-6-6.47 (b) The driver of an emergency organ transport vehicle on the public streets, highways,48 and private access roads of this state, when transporting neces sary personnel, organs,49 tissue, or medical supplies to a time-critical organ transplant procedure, shall be authorized50 to operate the emergency organ transport vehicle as an emergency vehicle pursuant to Code51 Section 40-6-6."52 SECTION 5.53 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 31-11-31, relating to application for license,54 by revising paragraphs (4.1) and (5) and by adding a new paragraph to read as follows:55 "(4.1)(5) A description or photograph of each air ambulance, including the color scheme,56 insignia, name, monogram, or other distinguishing characteristics, to be used to designate57 the applicant's air ambulance or air ambulances; and58 (6) A description or photograph of each emergency organ transp ort vehicle, including59 the make, model, year of manufacture, and motor and chassis num ber; and the color60 scheme, insignia, name, monogram, or other distinguishing characteristics, to be used to61 designate the applicant's emergency organ transport vehicle or emergency organ transport62 vehicles; and63 (5)(7) The location and description of the place or places from whic h the ambulance64 service is intended to operate."65 S. B. 58 - 3 - 25 LC 39 4531 SECTION 6.66 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 31-11- 33, relating to insurance67 coverage as condition of licensing, as follows:68 "31-11-33.69 (a) Every ambulance and emergency organ transport vehicle operated on the streets,70 highways, and private access roads of this state by persons eng aged in providing71 ambulance service shall have insurance coverage issued by an insurance company licensed72 to do business in this state providing at least the minimum cov erage required for motor73 vehicles under Chapter 34 of Title 33; provided, however, that in the case of ambulances74 or emergency organ transport vehicles operated by the state, the coverage required shall be75 the same coverage required for other state vehicles under Chapter 9 of Title 45. Every air76 ambulance operated by persons engaged in providing air ambulanc e service in this state77 shall have insurance coverage as described in Code Section 33-7-9.78 (b) No ambulance or emergency organ transport vehicle shall be licensed nor shall any79 license be renewed unless the ambulance or emergency organ tran sport vehicle h a s80 insurance coverage in force as required by this Code section. A certificate of insurance81 shall be submitted to the license officer for approval prior to the issuance or renewal of82 each ambulance license and emergency organ transport vehicle license. Satisfactory83 evidence that such insurance is at all times in force and effec t shall be furnished to the84 license officer, in such form as he or she may specify, by all licensees required to provide85 such insurance under this Code section.86 (c) This Code section shall apply to all ambulances and emerge ncy organ transport87 vehicles, whether privately operated or operated by any political subdivision of the state88 or any municipality thereof.89 (d) This Code section shall not apply to first responders, which do not transport patients,90 operated by municipalities or counties that have not elected to waive their governmental91 immunity by purchasing vehicle liability insurance pursuant to Code Section 33-24-51."92 S. B. 58 - 4 - 25 LC 39 4531 SECTION 7.93 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 31-11-34, relating to standards for94 ambulances, as follows:95 "31-11-34.96 Ambulances and emergency organ transport vehicles operated by persons engaged in97 providing ambulance service shall meet all standards as set forth in the department's rules98 and regulations."99 SECTION 8.100 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 31-11-50, relat ing to medical adviser, by101 revising subsection (c) as follows:102 "(c) This Code section shall not apply to any ambulance service which solely provides103 transportation for necessary personnel, organs, tissue, or medical supplies to a time-critical104 organ transplant procedure by emergency organ transport vehicle s or any county having105 a population under 12,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1970 or any106 such future census."107 SECTION 9.108 Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, is109 amended in Code Section 40-1-1, relating to definitions, by rev ising paragraph (5) as110 follows:111 "(5) 'Authorized emergency vehicle' means a motor vehicle belonging to a public utility112 corporation or operated by the Department of Transportation and designated as an113 emergency vehicle by the Department of Public Safety; a motor vehicle belonging to a114 fire department or a certified private vehicle belonging to a v olunteer firefighter or a115 fire-fighting association, partnership, or corporation; an emer gency organ transplant116 vehicle as such term is defined in Code Section 31-11-2; an ambulance; or a motor117 S. B. 58 - 5 - 25 LC 39 4531 vehicle belonging to a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, provided such118 vehicle is in use as an emergency vehicle by one authorized to use it for that purpose."119 SECTION 10.120 Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-8-92, relating to designation of emergency121 vehicles, flashing or revolving lights, permits, fee, and use o f flashing or revolving green122 lights on public property, by revising subsection (a) as follows:123 "(a) The All emergency vehicles shall be designated as such by the commissioner of public124 safety shall be authorized to designate certain motor vehicles as emergency vehicles. The125 commissioner of public safety shall so designate each vehicle by issuing to such vehicle126 a permit to operate flashing or revolving emergency lights of the appropriate color. Such127 permit shall be valid for five years from the date of issuance. Any and all officially marked128 law enforcement vehicles as specified in Code Section 40-8-91 s hall not be required to129 have a permit for the use of a blue light. Any and all fire department vehicles which are130 distinctly marked on each side shall not be required to have a permit for the use of a red131 light. Any and all ambulances motor vehicles which are operated for ambulance services,132 as defined in Code Section 31-11-2, licensed by this state under a valid license from the133 Emergency Health Section of the Department of Public Health shall not be required to have134 a permit for the use of a red light."135 SECTION 11.136 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.137 S. B. 58 - 6 - ## 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. Senate Bill 58 creates a new category of emergency vehicle in Georgia law for transporting donor organs, tissue, and transplant personnel, and sets licensing, insurance, and road-use rules for those vehicles. ### Plain-language summary Georgia law currently defines ambulance services around transporting sick or injured patients, but does not clearly address vehicles that rush donor organs, tissue, or medical supplies to time-critical transplant procedures. This bill, called the Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act, changes that by creating a new vehicle category called an 'emergency organ transport vehicle' and folding it into the state's ambulance service laws (O.C.G.A. Title 31, Chapter 11). The bill requires these vehicles to carry minimum motor vehicle insurance, meet the same equipment standards the Department of Public Health sets for ambulances, and be described in license applications. It exempts them from the state's Emergency Medical Systems Communications Program rules and from the ambulance medical adviser requirement, since they carry organs rather than patients. It also lets their drivers use emergency vehicle privileges on public roads and exempts the vehicles from needing a separate Department of Public Safety emergency vehicle light permit, similar to licensed ambulances. ### What it does - Creates a new legal category, 'emergency organ transport vehicle,' for motor vehicles carrying organs, tissue, personnel, or medical supplies to time-critical transplant procedures. - Requires these vehicles to carry minimum motor vehicle insurance coverage and submit proof of insurance before getting or renewing a license. - Requires emergency organ transport vehicles to meet the same equipment standards the Department of Public Health sets for ambulances. - Exempts these vehicles from the Emergency Medical Systems Communications Program hearing and appeal rules and from the ambulance medical adviser requirement. - Allows drivers of these vehicles to use emergency vehicle privileges, such as lights and right of way, when transporting organs under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-6. - Exempts organ transport vehicles from needing a separate emergency light permit from the Department of Public Safety, mirroring the exemption already given to licensed ambulances. ### Who it affects The bill affects organ procurement organizations and transplant centers that move donor organs and tissue, ambulance service licensees and drivers, the Department of Public Health's Emergency Health Section, the Department of Public Safety, and insurance companies that cover these vehicles. ### Why it matters Organ transplants depend on speed, since organs and tissue remain viable only for a limited window. By giving organ transport vehicles clear legal status as emergency vehicles, with insurance and equipment rules but fewer administrative hurdles than ambulances, the bill could make it easier and faster to move organs to transplant sites on Georgia roads. ### Key provisions - Section 1 gives the bill a short title, the 'Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act.' - Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-2 to expand the definition of 'ambulance service' to include transporting organs, tissue, personnel, or supplies to transplant procedures, and adds a definition of 'emergency organ transplant vehicle.' - Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-3 to exempt these vehicles from the EMSC Program hearing and appeal process. - Section 4 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-7 so drivers of emergency organ transport vehicles get the same emergency vehicle operating authority as ambulance drivers. - Section 5 amends the license application requirements in O.C.G.A. § 31-11-31 to require a description of each organ transport vehicle, including make, model, and identifying markings. - Section 6 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-33 to require insurance coverage for organ transport vehicles as a condition of licensing, at the same minimum level required for other motor vehicles. - Section 7 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-34 to require organ transport vehicles to meet the Department of Public Health's equipment standards. - Section 8 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-50 to exempt organ transport services from the ambulance medical adviser requirement. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-09) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-09) - Sponsors: John Albers, Chuck Hufstetler, Kay Kirkpatrick, Ben Watson, John Kennedy, Carden Summers, Jason Anavitarte, Billy Hickman, Frank Ginn, Max Burns, Ricky Williams, Bill Cowsert, Chuck Payne, Drew Echols, Sam Watson, Timothy Bearden, Shawn Still, Marty Harbin, Russ Goodman, Lee Anderson, Rick Townsend - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69637 > The history, votes, and amendments (950 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb58.md?full=1