Georgia Senate Bill 535: Mental Health; The Re-Creation Of Community Service Boards

The legislation was signed in March 2026, and went into effect on July 1, 2026. It restructures Georgia’s Community Service Boards, the regional organizations that provide public mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services across the state. As part of the oversight, the legislation shifts hiring authority for clinic leadership from local county boards to the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The goal is to improve accountability and create more consistent care . . .