HB1446: HB1446 Health; transfer responsibility for oversight of emergency medical services from Department of Public Health to Georgia Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Council

Georgia's emergency medical services, from ambulance licensing to stroke center certification, are currently overseen by the Department of Public Health. This bill would shift that authority to the Georgia Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Council, a body it creates with members appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President. The council would take over contracts, employees, property, and rulemaking power the Department of Public Health currently holds for emergency medical services. The bill also moves responsibility for designating and contracting with regional EMS advisory councils (REMSACs) from the Board of Public Health to the Board of Community Health, transfers the Office of Cardiac Care and its staff to the new council, and rewrites licensing, appeal, and disciplinary procedures for ambulance providers and EMS personnel. Most changes take effect January 1, 2028, though the section creating the council's membership takes effect July 1, 2027, so the council can be appointed and organized before it assumes its duties.

• Creates the Georgia Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Council with nine appointed members and transfers to it the Department of Public Health's current EMS oversight powers, effective January 1, 2028.
• Transfers all Department of Public Health employees working in EMS-related roles, including the Office of Cardiac Care, to become employees of the new council.
• Moves responsibility for designating regional EMS advisory councils (REMSACs) and contracting with them from the Board of Public Health to the Board of Community Health.
• Shifts licensing of ambulance providers and EMS personnel, and certification of stroke centers and cardiac care centers, from the Department of Public Health to the new council.
• Keeps existing licenses, certificates, contracts, and rules in effect during the transition so providers and personnel are not required to reapply immediately.
• Sets the council's membership provision to take effect July 1, 2027, ahead of the broader January 1, 2028 effective date for the rest of the transfer.

Ambulance providers and their employees, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, cardiac technicians, first responders, hospitals seeking stroke or cardiac care center designation, Department of Public Health and Office of Cardiac Care staff, regional EMS advisory councils, and the Board of Community Health.

Georgians who call 911 or rely on ambulance and stroke or cardiac care systems would see the agency setting safety rules, issuing licenses, and handling appeals change from the Department of Public Health to a newly structured council, altering who oversees complaints, inspections, and provider standards.

• Section 1-1 repeals and rewrites Article 1 of Chapter 11, Title 31, establishing the council's legislative findings, definitions, membership, powers, meeting rules, and executive director appointment.
• Code Section 31-11-3 transfers all Department of Public Health powers and duties under this chapter to the council effective January 1, 2028, except REMSAC designation authority.
• Code Section 31-11-4 transfers contracts, employees (including the Office of Cardiac Care), property, and existing licenses from the Department of Public Health to the council.
• Code Section 31-11-5 creates the nine-member council with two-year terms, appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President, effective July 1, 2027.
• Part II revises ambulance provider licensing procedures, provider matching payments, and suspension/revocation and appeal processes under Code Sections 31-11-30 through 31-11-36.
• Part III updates EMS personnel certification, background check, and disciplinary procedures to reference the council instead of the department throughout Code Sections 31-11-49 through 31-11-60.2.
• Part VI transfers stroke center identification and certification duties from the Department of Public Health to the council under Code Sections 31-11-112 through 31-11-119.
• Part VII moves the Office of Cardiac Care into the council and updates cardiac care center level designation criteria under Code Section 31-11-132.

1. 2026-03-06House Reconsidered (House)
2. 2026-03-06House Third Reading Lost (House)
3. 2026-03-06House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-03House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
5. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-24House Hopper (House)

• Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)Primary sponsor
• Trey Rhodes (R, HD-124)
• Bruce Williamson (R, HD-112)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)

1. FailedHouse voteMarch 6, 2026

   52 yea, 114 nay (4 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #655

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2026

   107 yea, 62 nay (2 not voting, 6 absent)

   Reconsider: House Vote #656

• emergency medical services
• ambulance regulation
• stroke centers
• public health agencies
• EMS licensing