HB1329: HB1329 Controlled substances; Schedule I; provide certain provisions

Georgia law lists specific chemicals as Schedule I controlled substances and separately lists thousands of pharmaceutical drugs as "dangerous drugs" that require a prescription (O.C.G.A. §§ 16-13-25 and 16-13-71). Because drug manufacturers constantly introduce new medications, the General Assembly regularly updates these lists. This bill revises the chemical description for one class of Schedule I substances involving substitution patterns on certain molecules. It then adds roughly 50 newly approved drugs, ranging from vaccines to cancer treatments, to the dangerous drug list so pharmacies must treat them accordingly. It repeals one outdated entry and rewrites three existing drug names for accuracy. It also updates the definition of epinephrine devices covered under a separate dangerous drug provision, referencing FDA-approved dosage forms for asthma and allergic reaction treatment. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Rewrites the chemical description in Georgia's Schedule I controlled substance law (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-25) covering certain substituted compounds.
• Adds about 50 newly named pharmaceutical drugs, including new cancer, asthma, and infection treatments, to the state's dangerous drug list (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71).
• Removes one outdated dangerous drug entry (paragraph 324) from the list without replacing it.
• Updates the names of three existing dangerous drug entries, including a hemophilia treatment, a chikungunya vaccine, and the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
• Clarifies the definition of epinephrine devices covered under the dangerous drug law, referencing FDA-approved packaging for asthma relief and allergic reaction treatment.
• Sets the effective date as the day the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law.

Pharmacists, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers who must classify and dispense the newly listed drugs correctly; medical providers prescribing these medications; and law enforcement or prosecutors who rely on the Schedule I chemical definitions when identifying illegal substances.

Keeping Georgia's dangerous drug and controlled substance lists current affects which medications require special handling, prescriber oversight, or pharmacy recordkeeping, and which chemical compounds count as illegal controlled substances under state law, directly shaping pharmacy practice and drug enforcement.

• Section 1 revises subparagraph (E) of paragraph (16) in O.C.G.A. § 16-13-25 describing a Schedule I substitution pattern involving nitro, alkyl, halide, cyano, or acetyl groups.
• Section 2 adds nearly 50 new paragraphs to O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71(b), naming specific new drugs such as Aceclidine, Suzetrigine, and Zongertinib as dangerous drugs.
• Section 3 repeals and reserves paragraph (324) and revises three existing dangerous drug entries, including the chikungunya vaccine and mRNA COVID-19 vaccine names.
• Section 4 revises paragraph (9.33) of O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71(c), clarifying epinephrine device definitions for asthma relief and allergic reaction treatment tied to FDA approval.
• Section 5 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval or the date the bill otherwise becomes law.
• Section 6 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-05-05
2. 2026-05-05Act 390
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-20Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 25, 2026

   171 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #561

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2026

   41 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #779

• controlled substances
• dangerous drugs
• pharmacy regulation
• drug scheduling
• prescription drugs