HB1296: HB1296 Mental health; pilot program to support clinical research of certain veterans and first responders suffering from certain conditions; provide

Georgia veterans and retired first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorder, or traumatic brain injury currently have no dedicated state program offering access to experimental or newly approved 'breakthrough' treatments such as ibogaine-based therapies or transcranial magnetic stimulation. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's mental health code creating the Breakthrough Treatments for Georgia Heroes Suicide Prevention Pilot Program, run by the state health department. Starting January 1, 2027, and subject to funding, the department would set up approved treatment sites, fund clinical trials and studies, subsidize treatment costs, and train healthcare workers. It could partner with accredited Georgia colleges and apply for outside grants. The department must report annually to legislative leaders on the program's progress. The program and this law would automatically end on January 1, 2030, and the whole Act only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates money for it.

• Creates a new three-year pilot program within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to research and provide breakthrough treatments to eligible veterans and retired first responders.
• Defines 'eligible breakthrough treatment' to include FDA breakthrough-designated devices and drugs, ibogaine-based therapies, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and similar treatments approved by the department.
• Allows program funds to be used for clinical trials, subsidizing treatment costs, building clinical infrastructure in underserved areas, and training healthcare workers.
• Authorizes the department to partner with accredited Georgia colleges and universities and to seek outside grants or financial assistance.
• Requires an annual report to the Governor, legislative leaders, and relevant House and Senate committees on the program's implementation and effectiveness.
• Sets the program to automatically terminate and the underlying law to repeal itself on January 1, 2030, and makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly appropriating specific funding.

Veterans and retired first responders (such as police officers and firefighters) suffering from PTSD, depression, or traumatic brain injury; the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, which would run the program; and accredited Georgia colleges and universities that could partner on the research.

If funded, eligible veterans and retired first responders could get access to experimental or newly approved mental health treatments, like ibogaine therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation, that are not typically covered elsewhere, through state-subsidized clinical trials and treatment sites, but the program only exists if lawmakers separately allocate money for it.

• New O.C.G.A. § 37-1-8(a) defines 'eligible breakthrough treatment,' 'first responder,' 'veteran,' and names the program the Breakthrough Treatments for Georgia Heroes Suicide Prevention Pilot Program.
• Subsection (b) directs the department to launch the three-year pilot beginning January 1, 2027, subject to appropriations, targeting PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorder, and traumatic brain injury.
• Subsection (c) lists allowed uses of program funds, including clinical trials, treatment subsidies, infrastructure investment in underserved areas, and workforce training.
• Subsection (d) allows the department to contract with Georgia postsecondary research institutions accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
• Subsection (f) requires an annual report by December 31 to the Governor, legislative leaders, and House and Senate health and veterans affairs committees.
• Subsection (h) terminates the program and repeals the Code section by operation of law on January 1, 2030.
• Section 2 makes the entire Act effective only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funds for it in an appropriations Act.

1. 2026-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-04House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
3. 2026-03-04House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-25House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
5. 2026-02-18House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
6. 2026-02-18House Second Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-17House First Readers (House)
8. 2026-02-12House Hopper (House)

• Martin Momtahan (R, HD-017)Primary sponsor
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
• Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #629

• veterans mental health
• first responders
• PTSD treatment
• mental health funding
• clinical research