Georgia House bill by author Rep. Newton regulating stem cell therapies and requiring patient consent passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Mark Newton aims to regulate the use of certain stem cell therapies by requiring ethical sourcing, patient consent, and clear advertising, following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Tuesday, March 31, clearing the House by a vote of 166-1 and the Senate by a vote of 48-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1275 on Wednesday, Feb. 11 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Medical practice; ensure that stem cell therapies are used to advance medical treatments and improve patient outcomes in an ethical manner that does not involve stem cells derived from aborted fetuses’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill regulates the use of certain stem cell therapies in Georgia to promote ethical, non-fetal sources and protect patients. It allows physicians, and designated physician assistants or nurse practitioners, to perform stem cell therapies that are not approved by the FDA if the treatment is within their scope of practice, patients are advised, and written consent is obtained. The bill requires that stem cells come from Georgia facilities that are FDA registered or accredited by specified organizations and that they follow federal good manufacturing practices. It mandates clear advertising notices for unapproved therapies, sets language and content standards for consent forms, excludes FDA-approved investigational uses and certain accredited institutions, and makes violations subject to professional discipline.

In the House, 72 Democrats and 94 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while one Republican opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 17 Democrats and 31 Republicans voted in favor, with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Michelle Au (Democrat-50th), Rep. Sharon Cooper (Republican-45th), and Rep. Lee Hawkins (Republican-27th), along with two other co-sponsors.

Newton graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS.

Newton, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 127th House District, replacing previous state representative Brian Prince.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday, May 11.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.