SB631: SB631 "Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act"; enact

Georgia law does not currently set up a state grant program for ibogaine research. This bill, called the "Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act," would add a new section to the state health code letting the Department of Public Health give grants to eligible institutions that join a multistate consortium studying ibogaine, an investigational drug, for treating opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and other neurological or mental health conditions in veterans. To qualify for a grant, an institution must be based in Georgia, have a track record treating veterans' neurological and trauma-related conditions, run a qualifying neurosurgery program, and be able to match at least $7 million in outside funding. Grant recipients must file quarterly progress and financial reports, and any revenue from patents or other intellectual property generated by the trials goes to the state general fund. The bill only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates money for it, and it would be automatically repealed if no funds are appropriated by July 1, 2029.

• Creates a new grant program at the Department of Public Health to fund FDA-approved clinical trials using ibogaine to treat veterans' opioid use disorder and related mental health conditions.
• Limits eligibility to Georgia-based institutions with proven neurological research programs that can match at least $7 million in outside funding for the trials.
• Requires grant recipients to submit quarterly progress and financial reports and file annual reports to the General Assembly and state budget offices.
• Directs that any revenue from patents, trademarks, or other intellectual property arising from the funded trials be deposited into the state's general fund.
• Makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating money for it, and repeals the Act automatically if no funds are appropriated by July 1, 2029.

Veterans seeking treatment for opioid use disorder or related mental health conditions, Georgia research institutions and hospitals with neurosurgery and trauma programs, the Department of Public Health, and state budget offices that must track and report on the grant funding.

If funded, the bill could open a new pathway for Georgia institutions to participate in experimental ibogaine treatment research aimed at veterans, potentially expanding treatment options for opioid use disorder, but the program only exists if lawmakers separately vote to pay for it.

• Section 1 gives the Act its short title, the 'Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 31-2A-21, defining terms like 'ibogaine,' 'clinical trial,' 'multistate consortium,' and 'veteran' for purposes of the grant program.
• Subsection (b) sets eligibility rules, including that applicants must match at least $7 million in outside funding and pursue FDA breakthrough therapy designation for ibogaine.
• Subsection (d) directs that revenue from patents or other intellectual property generated by the trials go to the state general fund rather than the grant recipient.
• Subsections (e) and (f) require annual and yearly reports to state budget offices and the General Assembly on spending and trial progress.
• Section 3 makes the entire Act contingent on a specific legislative appropriation and repeals it automatically 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
• opioid treatment
• mental health research
• ibogaine clinical trials
• state grant funding