2023 was a historic year for the General Assembly, it was the first time in 50 years that there has been both a new Speaker and a new Lt. Governor. Additionally, there are some 60 new Members.
GC4R is privileged to share with you this End of Session Report. Among those bills is HB 520, this year’s mental health bill.
HB 253 – DIED A DESERVING DEATH
By Representative Martin Momtahan
Click link to read bill: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/64036
GC4R led the opposition to this dangerously discrimantory legislation. HB 253 would have provided for enhanced penalties for the distribution of any controlled substance which contained any amount of fentanyl – by anyone – there was an enhanced penalty if the person was within 1,000 feet of any substance use treatment facility and, again, distribution was defined in such a manner that anyone could be charged. A special thanks to Robin Elliott and Laurie Fugitt with Georgia Overdose Prevention for organizing a group of moms to testify against this bill – they made the difference. Expect HB 253 to be back in 2024 under a new bill number. This is a perfect example of why your voice matters and why we must be on constant guard against the voices of stigma and discrimination.
HB 520 – Senate Read and Referred
By Representative Todd Jones HB 520 – THE Behavioral Health Bill for 2023
Click link to read bill: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/64634
GC4R was a leader in a coalition of over 60 organizations supporting HB 520, the successor legislation to HB 1013 – The Mental Health Parity Act. After receiving overwhelming bi-partisan support in the House of Representatives, HB 520 stalled in the Senate. HB 520 received much media attention and there is much speculation as to why this important legislation stalled. The important point is this – HB 520 is delayed, not dead. We know we enjoy strong bi-partisan support in the Senate. In the interim GC4R will work with our partners to address concerns and participate in the development advancing the policy in 2024. HB 520 was designed to address building a statewide workforce for mental health and addiction medical services. It contains provisions to address the statewide shortage of mental health providers, understand the capacity for in-patient mental health and substance use treatment, streamline the ways that state agencies involved in behavioral health can share data, and address the needs of so-called “familiar faces” (people that cycle between homelessness, jails, and hospitals due to serious mental illness). The bill also expands the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission to include two “peer support specialists.
SB 3 – PASSED the General Assembly Awaiting Governor Decision
By Senator John Albers
Click link to read bill: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/63492
GC4R supported the “Breaking Barriers to Jobs” legislation which required state agencies, departments, boards and other entities to reduce the number of positions for which a four-year college degree is required. Given that there are barriers still in place which create barriers for peers in recovery to gain acceptance to Georgia colleges and universities, GC4R welcomes this important effort to remove barriers to employment.
SB 47 – PASSED the General Assembly Awaiting Governor Decision
By Senator Chuck Hufstetler
Click link to read bill: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/63778
GC4R was not involved with this legislation. We include this for informational purposes only. SB 47 provides that vaping in restricted areas is a misdemeanor punishable by fine. The changes prohibit vaping in the same areas that smoking is currently banned in Georgia.
HB 181 – TABLED in Senate – Alive for 2024
By Representative Rick Townsend
Click link to read bill: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/63848
“The Kratom Bill” was complex and saw many substitues and amendments. Initally, GC4R OPPOSED HB 181 as the initial version sought to classify kratom as a Schedule 1 drug which would make its possession a felony.
GC4R testified in opposition to this version of the bill and advocated for language to allow the Georgia Harm Reduction Community to continue have access to kratom. GC4R appreciates Representative Rick Townsend for agreeing to our position. After much deliberation between Georgia legislators, the language of HB 181 was significantly amended. No longer does it seek an outright ban on kratom. The current version of the bill instead aims to impose regulations on kratom, similar to the types enacted in other states. HB 181 now seeks to raise the minimum age from 18 to 21, ban certain forms of kratom use (vaping), expand the labeling requirements, require manufacturers to register with the state, and mandate that kratom be sold behind the counter or in a locked glass case—among other restrictions.
HB 414 – PASSED the General Assembly Awaiting Governor Decision
By Representative Shaw Blackmon
Click link to read bill: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/64374
GC4R supported HB 414 which provides for a grant program within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to provide behavioral health services to military service members, veterans, and their families.
Recovery Advocacy At Your Capitol
1. GC4R was honored to join Alexia Jones of R2ISE as Governor Brian Kemp swore her in to the Behavioral Health Coordination Council. 
2. GC4R hosted four Town Hall meetings during the General Assembly. We are honored to provide a platform to connect the Georgia Recovery with elected officials and policy leaders during the Session. Thanks to the hundreds of people from across Georgia who zoomed in and thanks to all of our guests for taking time out of their busy schedules to give the Georgia Recovery Community the inside scoop.
3. Our Recovery Community Organizations took recovery advocacy to the next level this Session. Thanks to Rise Up from Dublin, Gardens of Hope from Vidalia, Reboot Jackson from Jefferson, and Coweta FORCE from Newnan for showing up strong in support of HB 520.
4. The team at Georgia Overdose Prevention led a team of Warrior Moms to the Capitol and were the driving force in killing a anti peer bill which would have criminalized people for having a medical condition.
5. GC4R was honored to participate in Harm Reduction Day, Higher Education in Prison Day, Substance Abuse Prevention Day, Mental Health Day, and Health Care Unscrambled at your State Capitol this Session.
6. GC4R was a leader in advancing Behavioral Health on Mental Health Monday’s this Session.
7. GC4R was honored to coordinate efforts on behalf of the General Assembly Working Group on Addiction and Recovery and the General Assembly Mental Health Caucus this Session. We are thankful for the strong bipartisan support for these important groups
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8. GC4R was an active member of the Mental Health Policy Partnership and the Substance Use Disorder Policy Partnership – we are building a Constituency of Consequence
The Georgia Council for Recovery is here to partner with you. If you have any interest in a specific bill, please e-mail Jeff Breedlove at jeff@gc4recovery.org – identify the bill number, and share your questions or thoughts
