LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 1

Georgia’s 2025 Legislative Session Has Officially Begun

On Monday, January 13th, the Georgia General Assembly convened to kick off the first year of the state’s two-year legislative cycle. During this period, lawmakers will introduce and consider bills that have two years (this session and next) to become law. The legislative session gives state lawmakers a chance to address key issues affecting Georgians, including health and health care.

The following day GHF hosted Health Care Unscrambled 2025 (our 15th annual HCU!), where we unveiled our 2025-2026 policy priorities. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended! If you missed the event or would like to revisit the discussions, you can find a full recap on our event page here, including a recording and presentation slides. 

On Thursday, Governor Kemp delivered his State of the State address and unveiled his budget proposals for the remainder of the current fiscal year and the next state fiscal year. Below, we’ve highlighted key health-related components of the Governor’s budget for your review.

This Week: Budget Week
House and Senate Appropriations Committee members are holding joint hearings to review state agency budget requests and spending this week. These hearings provide important insights into agency priorities and funding needs for the year ahead.

For more information, you can access the legislative session schedule here.

What This Election Means for Health Care in Georgia

The 2024 election is nearly here, and the results will have huge implications for health care in Georgia. Your vote will shape critical decisions that affect how affordable and accessible health care is for all of us. From the future of affordable coverage to filling gaps in care for communities across the state, there’s a lot on the line.

As you prepare to vote, it’s important to understand what’s at stake and how the results could change health care in Georgia—especially for those who need it most.

As Georgians prepare to cast their votes in this year’s elections, the importance of health care policy has never been clearer. From the future of affordable coverage to the persistent gaps in access for communities around our state, the stakes are high. Georgia’s on-going health challenges highlight the need for candidates who prioritize health and wellness. Georgians need elected leaders who will make decisions that ensure access to affordable, high-quality health care, especially for communities who have historically had more difficult barriers to accessing and affording care.

With this in mind, we’ve developed a set of questions for voters to ask state and local candidates on key health care issues affecting communities around our state. These questions can help guide your conversations with candidates at town halls, forums, or on social media.