Crossover Day has come and gone, and the final stretch of the 2025 legislative session begins!
With just 12 legislative days left before Sine Die on April 4, lawmakers will move quickly to vote on the bills that made it through this key deadline. The legislature will pack the next three weeks with committee hearings, floor votes, and last-minute negotiations.
We’re thrilled to share that HB 291, the Community Health Worker certification bill, passed the House late Thursday night! The House passage of HB 291 is a big win for Georgia’s Community Health Workers and the communities they serve. Join us in sending a huge “Thank you!” to our partners at Georgia Watch and all the advocates who worked tirelessly to get this bill through the House—your efforts made this progress possible! Let’s keep up the good work to ensure this bill successfully passes through the Senate!
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what survived Crossover Day and what comes next for health care at the Capitol.
Governor Signs Amended FY25 Budget
On Thursday, Governor Kemp signed the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget, finalizing adjustments to the current state budget through June 30, 2025. Before reaching his desk, a conference committee resolved differences between the House and Senate versions, shaping the final spending plan.
Here are some key updates from the conference committee’s final budget:
Compromised on the funding for a pilot program to use AI to detect fraud in Georgia’s Medicaid program from the Halving the amount the House put in the budget (House: $685K, Senate: $342K, Final: $550k).
Compromised on funding for critical access and rural hospitals for Hurricane Helene relief by $20M ((House: $35.64M, Senate: $15.63M, Final: $21.97M)
Kept the $250k for school-based health centers (House: $0, Senate $250k, Final: $250k)
Returned the House and Governor’s allocation for integrating Pathways and Georgia Access applications into the state’s central eligibility system (the Georgia Gateway Integrated Eligibility System) (House: $1.47M, Senate: $0, Final: $1.47M).
Returned pay raises for Medicaid eligibility caseworkers (House: $1.44M, Senate: $0, Final: $1.44M).
Removed the reduction in current state funds for additional eligibility caseworkers and supervisors previously added to support the Public Health Emergency Unwinding (House: $0, Senate: -$11.1M, Final: $0).
Increased the cut to Georgia’s reinsurance funds due to lower-than-expected claims (House: -$5.58M, Senate: –$10.84M, Final: -$20M).
With the AFY25 budget now signed into law, these funding changes will take effect immediately. We’ll continue monitoring how these budget decisions impact Georgia’s health care system. Stay tuned for more updates!
Legislation on Our Radar
Here are the key bills GHF has followed and where they stand after Crossover Day:
HOUSE BILLS
HB 81: Interstate Compact for School Psychologists
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Bethany Ballard (147th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Passed out of the Senate Education and Youth Committee and awaits a vote by the full Senate
GHF Position: Support
What this bill does: HB 81 would allow Georgia to join the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. This compact makes it easier for school psychologists to work in different states by simplifying the licensing process. It also helps address the shortage of these professionals in schools. The bill creates a commission to manage the compact. It also sets rules for sharing information, handling discipline issues (for school psychologists, not students), solving disputes, and how states can join or leave the compact. The goal is to give students better access to school psychologists while still allowing each state to set its own licensure requirements.
HB 89: Requires health care providers, health care facilities, and pharmacies to provide the Maternal Mortality Review Committee with psychiatric or other clinical records
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Cooper (45th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.
GHF Position: Monitoring
What this bill does: HB 89 aims to improve how the state of Georgia collects information on maternal deaths and provides care for mothers and babies. It gives the Maternal Mortality Review Committee more access to patient records, including mental health and pharmacy records, to better understand why mothers pass away during pregnancy or childbirth. The bill also creates a Regional Perinatal Center Advisory Committee, which will help make sure hospitals and doctors have the right resources to care for high-risk pregnancies and births. Lastly, the bill simplifies the process for investigating the deaths of pregnant women, so medical examiners don’t always have to go through a regional perinatal center unless special circumstances require it.
HB 94:Requires health insurers to cover fertility preservation services for individuals undergoing treatment for cancer, sickle cell disease, or lupus that may impact fertility
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Lumsden (12th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
Position: Support
What this bill does: HB 94 would require state-regulated health plans to cover fertility preservation services for people undergoing medical treatments for cancer, sickle cell disease, or lupus that could lead to infertility. These services include procedures like freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos to help individuals have children in the future. The bill also sets guidelines and limits for what insurance must cover, such as evaluation costs, medications, and one year of storage for reproductive cells. Limits include restrictions based on age and the number of procedures covered.
What this bill does: HB 97 would create a new coverage option for low-income Georgians ages 19-65 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
Eligible Georgians would enroll in a health plan through Georgia Access (the state-run website where people can sign up for private health insurance). Under this program, the state would fully cover premiums and other costs for enrollees.
HB 124 – Insurance Coverage for PANDAS and PANS Treatment
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Scoggins (14th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
GHF position: Monitoring
What this bill does: House Bill 124 would require health insurance plans, including the State Health Benefit Plan, to cover health care services for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). Coverage must follow nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines and apply them to the diagnosis, treatment, management, and ongoing monitoring of these conditions. The bill prohibits insurers from imposing special deductibles, copayments, or coverage limitations beyond those generally applied to other health care services.
HB 178 – Medicaid Coverage for Georgians Living with HIV
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Sharon Cooper (45th)
Status: DID NOT CROSSOVER
GHF position: Support
What this bill does: HB 178 directs Georgia’s Department of Community Health to seek federal approval to provide Medicaid coverage to low-income Georgians living with HIV. The program would offer comprehensive health services, including antiretroviral medications, to eligible individuals. To qualify, participants must have an HIV diagnosis, earn less than 138% of the federal poverty level, and lack other health coverage. This bill aims to improve health outcomes, reduce transmission rates, and lower health care costs by providing early access to treatment.
HB 196 – PBM Price Transparency in the State Health Benefit Plan
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Kelley (16th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
What this bill does: HB 196 would require greater transparency and set standards for how Georgia’s State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) reimburses pharmacies for prescription drugs. The bill establishes new rules for how pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurers must calculate drug reimbursements to ensure pharmacies receive fair payment for dispensing medications.
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
GHF Position: Support
What this bill does: HB 197 strengthens peer-to-peer review requirements for health insurers and utilization review entities when they question whether a medical treatment is necessary. The bill ensures that treating health care providers have a fair chance to discuss their treatment decisions with an appropriately trained clinical peer before an insurance company or review entity makes an adverse determination (a decision that denies or limits coverage for treatment).
What this bill does:HB 258 would create PeachCare for Adults, a program that would cover adults ages 18 to 64 with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level who are not eligible for Medicaid. Coverage would mirror Medicaid benefits, including mental health services and all recommended adult vaccines. The Department of Community Health would oversee the program and require a federal waiver. The program would cap premiums for some enrollees and impose no work requirements.
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
GHF position: Oppose
What this bill does: SB 267 would require public schools and colleges in Georgia to separate restrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations by sex assigned at birth. It would also prohibit transgender girls from competing on girls’ sports teams. The bill would replace the term “gender” with “sex” in Georgia law and require official records to list individuals as either male or female at birth. Schools that violate the law could face fines, and parents could sue if they believe the school violated their child’s rights.
HB 268 – Student Safety, Health, and Well-Being Act
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Persinger (119th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
GHF Position: Monitoring
What this bill does: HB 268 proposes a range of policies to improve school safety, including creating mental health supports, behavioral threat assessments and management, and establishing a state-wide threat assessment database for Georgia’s elementary and secondary schools. The bill includes funding for school-based mental health coordinators, new student behavioral assessments, and expanded school safety measures. It also enhances information sharing between schools, law enforcement, and state agencies to improve student support and security.
Status: CROSSED OVER. Awaits a committee assignment in the Senate
GHF’s Position: Support
What this bill does: HB 291 would establish a certification process for community health workers (CHWs) in Georgia. CHWs are frontline public health workers who help connect individuals to health care and essential services, particularly in underserved communities. They go by many titles, such as Patient Navigator, Community Health Advocate, and Promotora de Salud. By setting uniform standards and training for CHWs, creating a statewide certification system would support a skilled, stable CHW workforce.
HB 323 – Bridging the Gap for ALS and Chronic Kidney Disease Act of 2025
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Mathiak (82nd)
Status: CROSSED OVER.
GHF position: Monitoring
What this bill does: HB 323 aims to enhance Medicare supplement insurance access for individuals under 65 who qualify due to disability or end-stage renal disease. The bill allows these individuals to obtain and renew Medicare supplement policies, mandates open enrollment periods, and prohibits insurers from charging higher premiums than those for individuals aged 65 and older.
HB 373 – Prostate Cancer Screening Coverage Mandate
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Glaize (67th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
GHF position: Support
What this bill does: HB 373 would require health plans to cover annual prostate cancer screenings for men at high risk of the disease, including men ages 40-49 with a family history of prostate cancer and men over 50 years of age. The bill aims to increase access to prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men, which could lead to earlier detection and better treatment outcomes.
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
GHF Position: Monitoring
What this bill does: HB 410 proposes changes to how Georgia’s Department of Insurance (DOI) operates. These changes include repealing several regulations, eliminating certain fees paid by insurers, and removing the requirement for insurance agency branch offices to obtain separate licenses. The bill’s author says HB 410 will streamline the DOI’s operations, reduce costs for insurers, and modernize regulations. However, several potential drawbacks could negatively impact consumers and public insurance industry oversight. These include less transparency in insurance company operations, less financial security, reduced oversight of insurance agencies operating multiple locations, and fewer financial resources for DOI to investigate and enforce consumer protections.
HB 422 – High Deductible Health Plans in the State Health Benefit Plan
Lead Sponsor: Rep. McCollum (30th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
GHF position: Monitoring
What this bill does: HB 422 would require the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) to offer at least two high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) by October 1, 2025. These plans must be paired with health savings accounts (HSAs), allowing employees to make pre-tax contributions directly from their paychecks. While HDHPs appear desirable to cost-conscious enrollees, they may face high out-of-pocket costs if they do not contribute to their HSA or do not contribute enough to offset the high deductible. One way to prevent that situation is for the bill to include a requirement to educate enrollees about the trade-offs of an HDHP and the importance of contributing to the HSA.
What this bill does: HB 500 updates Georgia’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program by increasing the maximum benefit amount, lifetime eligibility limits, and asset exclusions for applicants. It raises cash assistance levels to 40% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and allows recipients to receive benefits for up to 60 months, an increase from the previous 48-month limit. The bill also increases the asset limit to $5,000. It exempts one primary vehicle from asset calculations, with an additional $4,650 equity exclusion for a second vehicle if used for work, education, or job search.
HB 612 – Mental Health Parity Compliance and Enforcement
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Dempsey (13th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Assigned to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
GHF position: Support with modifications
What this bill does: Adds the Insurance Commissioner to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council (BHCC). The BHCC is a multi-agency advisory group operated by the state that focuses on improving the state’s behavioral health system. Adding the Insurance Commissioner to the group could help strengthen oversight and enforcement of Georgia’s mental health parity laws. The legislation also requires the BHCC to develop educational materials about mental health parity rights for consumers and providers. The bill also establishes a parity compliance review panel under the BHCC, to which health care providers must legally report suspected mental health parity violations.
What this bill does: HB 677 establishes new procedures for the discharge of children from hospitals and psychiatric residential treatment facilities when a parent, guardian, or legal custodian fails to take custody within 48 hours of a physician’s discharge order. The bill requires the formation of a task force to determine an appropriate medical or community placement for the child. This task force must include a care coordinator, the child’s treating psychiatrist or facility medical director, and representatives from the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), the child’s health insurer, and Medicaid care management organization, if applicable. The bill also mandates monthly reporting to the Georgia DBHDD’s Multi-Agency Treatment for Children (MATCH) Committee. The bill requires an annual report on the number and length of stays.
What this bill does:HB 689 creates a statewide homelessness prevention program under the Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless. The program is designed to prevent evictions, support housing stability for low-income individuals, and reduce homelessness. It establishes an application process, minimum program standards, and a funding structure for organizations that provide rental assistance, eviction diversion services, and other homelessness prevention efforts.
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the House Education Committee
GHF Position: Oppose
What this bill does: SB 1 mandates that students participate in school sports and use facilities based on their biological sex at birth, as documented on their birth certificate. The bill explicitly excludes transgender students from joining teams or using shared spaces aligning with their gender identity and outlines financial penalties for schools that violate the transgender athlete ban.
Status: CROSSED OVER. Approved by the House Insurance Committee. Awaits a full vote by the House
GHF Position: Support
What this bill does: SB 5 would require health insurers that use prior authorization requirements to create a Gold Card program that reduces or removes prior authorization requirements for health care providers who demonstrate a strong track record of following evidence-based medicine. The goal is to reduce administrative burdens for providers and insurers while ensuring high-quality care for patients.
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee
GHF Position: Oppose
What this bill does: SB 28, known as the “Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025,” proposes changes to the process of writing, reviewing, and removing state laws and regulations. The bill aims to reduce bureaucratic burdens by streamlining rule-making processes and requiring regular reviews of existing regulations. While intended to increase efficiency and transparency, this bill could significantly and detrimentally affect Georgia’s health policies and public health programs.
SB 30 – Ban on Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Minors
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Watson (1st)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the House Public and Community Health Committee
GHF Position: Oppose
What this bill does: SB 30 would expand Georgia’s restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for minors by banning puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries. It goes further than the existing SB 140 law from 2023 by removing exceptions, increasing penalties for doctors, and allowing parents to sue medical providers.
SB 39 – Ban on Coverage of Gender-Affirming Care in State-Funded Health Insurance Plans
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Tillery (19th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the House Health Committee
GH position: Oppose
What this bill does: SB 39 would prohibit the use of state funds to cover gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery, for individuals enrolled in state-funded health plans or receiving public assistance. The bill also bans state-owned health care facilities and state-employed providers from offering gender-affirming care.
What this bill does:SB 50 would establish PeachCare Plus, a new health coverage program for low-income adults in Georgia. The program would fully cover premiums and out-of-pocket costs for private health plans on Georgia Access, the state’s health insurance marketplace. Adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level would be eligible. The Department of Community Health would oversee the program, with guidance from a bipartisan advisory commission. Any state savings would support the Indigent Care Trust Fund, which helps hospitals care for uninsured patients.
SB 61 – School Safety and Juvenile Justice Changes
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Dolezal (27th)
Status: CROSSED OVER
GHF position: Oppose
What this bill does: Senate Bill 61 expands school safety policies and juvenile justice coordination by creating new school-related criminal offenses, increasing school threat assessment requirements, and requiring courts to share student legal records with schools. The bill raises penalties for school-related threats, moves more juvenile cases to superior court, and mandates annual site threat assessments at every public school. While intended to improve school safety, the bill may increase the criminalization of student behavior, disproportionately impact marginalized students, expand school surveillance, and increase law enforcement involvement in schools without investing in mental health or preventive support services.
Status: CROSSED OVER. Assigned to the House Rules Subcommittee on Lawsuit Reform, a subcommittee created solely for SB 68.
GHF position: Monitoring
What this bill does: SB68 proposes significant changes to Georgia’s civil justice system by limiting certain types of damages, changing rules for lawsuits, and adjusting legal procedures related to personal injury cases, insurance claims, and liability disputes. The bill includes significant changes to Georgia’s medical malpractice laws and the handling of lawsuits against health care providers and insurers. The changes to medical malpractice aim to limit the costs of medical malpractice lawsuits, reduce liability for health care providers, and adjust how juries award damages in personal injury and medical negligence cases.
What this bill does: SB 72, also known as the “Hope for Georgia Patients Act,” expands access to investigational treatments for patients with severely debilitating or life-threatening illnesses. The bill builds on Georgia’s existing Right to Try Act by allowing patients to seek personalized, experimental medical treatments not fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the bill could expand access to experimental treatments for patients with rare or terminal diseases, it also opens the door to further expansion of access to treatments not approved by the FDA. FDA approval ensures that drugs meet strict safety and efficacy standards, and bypassing this process could expose patients to unknown risks. Additionally, patients may pursue costly, unproven treatments that may not work or could worsen their condition.
SB 91 – Ban on Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) in the State Health Benefit Plan
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Tillery (19th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the House Health Committee
GHF Position: Monitoring
What this bill does: SB 91 would ban pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) that own or are associated with retail pharmacies from managing prescription drug benefits for the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP). The bill aims to address the conflict of interest that can occur due to the large PBMs owning or being affiliated with retail pharmacies (ex., CVS, Express Scripts, OptumRx), which can lead to “steering” or “self-dealing”—meaning they might favor their own pharmacies over independent or local ones.
SB 96 – Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Commission Expansion
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Echols (49th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the House Code Revision Committee
GHF position: Support
What this bill does: SB 96 expands the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Commission, which oversees funding and programs to prevent and reduce homelessness. It operates under the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). It provides grants, financial assistance, and support services to organizations that serve individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. The bill increases the commission’s membership from 9 to 11 and makes structural updates to appointment terms, allowing for broader representation and expertise in homelessness prevention efforts. This expansion could strengthen policy direction and funding decisions related to affordable housing and homelessness services.
SB 130 – Medical School Loan Forgiveness and Graduate Medical Education Expansion
Lead Sponsor:Sen. Hodges (District 3)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Referred to the House Health Committee
GHF Position: Monitoring
What this bill does: Senate Bill 130 expands medical education funding and Georgia’s service cancelable loan program to help increase the number of doctors, dentists, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses in underserved rural areas. The bill broadens state-funded medical education payment eligibility and adds medical residents and fellows to Georgia’s service cancelable loan program.
SB 195 – Over-the-Counter Access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Hufstetler (52nd)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Assigned to the House Health Committee
GHF Position: Support
What this bill does: SB 195 would allow pharmacists in Georgia to dispense Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention without a prescription from a doctor. PrEP is a highly effective medication that reduces the risk of HIV transmission by up to 99% when taken as prescribed. However, barriers to accessing PrEP—such as requiring a doctor’s prescription, lack of insurance, or stigma—can prevent people at risk from getting preventive treatment. Expanding access through pharmacies allows individuals to obtain PrEP more quickly and conveniently, particularly in areas with limited health care providers. The bill establishes guidelines for pharmacists to provide PrEP under a statewide protocol, ensuring greater accessibility to the medication.
SB 233 – Updates to the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission (BHRIC)
Lead sponsor: Sen. Brass (6th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Awaits a House committee assignment
GHF position: Support
What this bill does: SB 233 makes several updates to the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission (BHRIC), including expanding its membership, restructuring its subcommittees, and extending its existence by 18 months. The commission is responsible for evaluating and recommending improvements to Georgia’s behavioral health system. Key changes to the committee include adding to the Commission’s membership a certified addiction recovery specialist with lived experience, a provider specializing in intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a parent of an individual with IDD or an individual with IDD, an individual who has lost an immediate family member to drug overdose or fentanyl poisoning, a leader of an IDD advocacy organization, and an executive director of a Georgia nonprofit focused on addiction and recovery. The bill also removes the Involuntary Commitment and Workforce & System Development committees and replaces them with the Addictive Diseases and Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities committees, respectively.
What this bill does:SB 262 would require health insurance plans in Georgia to continue to cover preventive health care services without cost-sharing, ensuring that individuals can access screenings, immunizations, and other preventive care without paying out-of-pocket costs. The bill aims to protect access to preventive care regardless of changes to federal requirements.
SB 276 – Third-Party Payer Accountability for Medicaid Claims
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Echols (49th)
Status: CROSSED OVER. Awaits a committee assignment in the House
GHF Position: Monitoring
What this bill does: Senate Bill 276 strengthens accountability for third-party payers(such as private insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers) when paying health care costs for Medicaid beneficiaries. The bill requires these payers to promptly respond to claims and inquiries and prohibits denials of payment based on prior authorization issues.
Advocate With Us At The Capitol!
Join These Advocacy Events During the Legislative Session
Each week during the legislative session, we’ll highlight legislative advocacy days hosted by our partner organizations. These events offer excellent opportunities to engage in the lawmaking process by meeting your legislators and advocating for critical health issues.
Please contact Anthony Hill at ahill@healthyfuturega.org if you have an advocacy event you’d like included in GHF’s legislative update.
We hope to see you at one or more of these impactful events!
GHF Has You Covered!
Stay up-to-date with the legislative session
GHF monitors legislative activity on a number of critical consumer health care topics. Along with our weekly legislative updates and timely analysis of bills, here are tools to help you stay in touch with health policy under the Gold Dome.
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