Georgia House passes broad changes to mental health programs

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston’s support for House Bill 1013 has powered it through the House, and on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, he urged the Senate not to “nitpick” it.

David Goldman / Associated Press

Georgia’s House of Representatives on Tuesday pushed forward a broad set of changes to the state’s lagging mental health system, with one sponsor pledging that “we are actually going to make a difference.”

House Bill 1013 passed 169-3, moving on to the state Senate for more debate.

“We have the ability to at least make a material change and possibly a true solution,” said Rep. Todd Jones, a Cumming Republican.