SB 631: "Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act"; enact

This bill, called the Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act, would add a new section to Georgia law letting the Department of Public Health give grants to research institutions to run clinical trials of ibogaine, a substance being studied as a treatment for opioid use disorder and other neurological or mental health conditions in veterans. The trials would need approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and would be run as part of a multistate consortium, meaning research groups from several states working together. To qualify for a grant, an applicant must be based in Georgia, have experience treating neurological conditions in veterans, run a neurosurgery program, and be able to match at least $7 million in outside funding. Grantees would have to report quarterly on progress and finances, and any money made from patents or other intellectual property from the trials would go to the state's general fund. The bill only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates money for it, and it would be repealed automatically if no funding is provided by July 1, 2029.

• Authorizes the Department of Public Health to award grants for FDA-approved clinical trials using ibogaine to treat opioid use disorder and related conditions in veterans.
• Requires the department to obtain any federal waiver needed before implementing the program.
• Sets eligibility rules for grant recipients, including being based in Georgia, having neurosurgery research facilities, and matching at least $7 million in outside funding.
• Requires grant recipients to submit quarterly progress and financial reports to the department.
• Directs that revenue from patents or other intellectual property arising from the trials go into the state general fund.
• Makes the law take effect only if the General Assembly appropriates specific funding, and repeals it automatically if no funding is provided by July 1, 2029.

Veterans seeking treatment for opioid use disorder and related mental health conditions, research institutions and hospitals with neurosurgery programs that might apply for grants, the Department of Public Health, which would run the grant program, and state budget offices that receive annual financial reports.

If funded, the bill would create a new state-backed pathway for veterans to access experimental ibogaine treatment through regulated clinical trials, potentially expanding options for conditions like opioid use disorder, while directing any profits from resulting patents or discoveries back to the state treasury rather than private entities.

• Section 2 adds new Code section 31-2A-21, defining key terms including 'ibogaine,' 'veteran,' 'clinical trial,' and 'multistate consortium.'
• Subsection (b) requires grant applicants to be Georgia-based, experienced in veteran neurological care, and able to match at least $7 million in non-state funding.
• Subsection (b)(6) requires grantees to submit an investigational new drug application to the FDA and seek breakthrough therapy designation for ibogaine.
• Subsection (c) requires quarterly progress and financial reports from grant recipients to the department.
• Subsection (d) directs that all intellectual property and commercial revenue from the trials go into the state general fund.
• Subsection (e) requires an annual accounting of expended funds to state budget offices by January 1 each year.
• Subsection (f) requires an annual report to the General Assembly on trial progress and finances by December 1 each year.
• Section 3 makes the entire Act contingent on specific legislative funding, with automatic repeal if no funds are appropriated by July 1, 2029.

1. 2026-03-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-23Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)Primary sponsor
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)

• veterans health
• mental health treatment
• opioid use disorder
• ibogaine research
• state grants