Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia SB72: "Hope for Georgia Patients Act"; enact
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2025
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 52 of Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to terminally ill patient's right to try investigational drugs, biological products, and devices, so as to expand access to individualized investigational treatments to patients who have severely debilitating or life-threatening illnesses; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for written informed consent; to allow certain manufacturers or eligible facilities to make available individualized investigational treatments; to provide that coverage is not mandatory; to prohibit the sanctions against a physician's license; to provide exemption to liability for certain charges; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Chapter 52 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to terminally ill patient's right to try investigational drugs, biological products, and devices, so as to expand access to individualized investigational treatments to patients who have severely debilitating or life-threatening illnesses; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for written informed consent; to allow certain manufacturers or eligible facilities to make available individualized investigational treatments…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Chapter 52 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to terminally ill patient's right to try investigational drugs, biological products, and devices, so as to expand access to individualized investigational treatments to patients who have severely debilitating or life-threatening illnesses; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for written informed consent; to allow certain manufacturers or eligible facilities to make available individualized investigational treatments; to provide that coverage is not mandatory; to prohibit the sanctions against a physician's license; to provide exemption to liability for certain charges; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Hope for Georgia Patients Act." S. B. LC 52 0651 SECTION 2. Chapter 52 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to terminally ill patient's right to try investigational drugs, biological products, and devices, is amended by designating Code Sections 31-52-1 through 31-52-10, the "Georgia Right to Try Act," as Article 1. SECTION 3. Said chapter is further amended by replacing "chapter" with "article" wherever the former appears …
Sponsors
- Lee Hawkins (R, 27) · primary sponsor
- Matt Brass (R, 6) · primary sponsor
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, 32)
- Greg Dolezal (R, 27)
- Brian Strickland (R, 42)
- Larry Walker (R, 20)
- John Albers (R)
- Carden Summers (R, 13)
- Ricky Williams (R, 25)
- Randy Robertson (R, 29)
- Moore, Colton (R, 53)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, 52)
Latest actions
- : Effective Date
- : Act 122
- : Senate Date Signed by Governor
- : Senate Sent to Governor
- : House Passed/Adopted
- : House Third Readers
- : House Committee Favorably Reported
- : House Second Readers
- : House First Readers
- : Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
Votes
- House Vote #318 (March 27, 2025): 161 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Vote #86 (February 24, 2025): 56 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB72?
- SB72 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): "Hope for Georgia Patients Act"; enact.
- What does SB72 do?
- In its own words: To amend Chapter 52 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to terminally ill patient's right to try investigational drugs, biological products, and devices, so as to expand access to individualized investigational treatments to patients who have severely debilitating or life-threatening illnesses; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for written informed consent; to allow certain manufacturers or eligible facilities to make available individualized investigational treatments…
- What is the status of SB72?
- Signed into law as of May 12, 2025. Latest action: Effective Date (July 1, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB72?
- Lee Hawkins (R, 27), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB72?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69767
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.