We’ve made it to the end of the legislative session and through Sine Die (the last day of session).

This year’s session ended abruptly with state senators adjourning before House members wrapped up. The Senate’s unexpectedly early departure left many bills in limbo. When Senators left early, they also left behind a number of Senate-passed measures that the House never had the chance to consider. With their sponsors already headed home, these bills were left without final votes and will have to wait until next year for another chance.

In this update, we review which notable health bills passed, which ones didn’t make it across the finish line, and highlight the major health-related investments included in the state budget.

You can view a full list of the legislation GHF tracked this year in our bill tracker. In May, we’ll share one final update with the Governor’s bill signings, vetoes, and any last budget changes.

Did these weekly legislative updates help you stay informed and take action this session? We hope so! We love creating them for advocates like you across the state. If you’d like to support this time-intensive, expert-driven work, please consider making a donation to GHF. (Maybe even set up a monthly gift, because advocacy is year-round!) Thank you!

National Public Health Week is an opportunity to focus on building healthier communities and ensuring that every Georgian has access to essential care, especially in a state where too many still face barriers to basic health services. One of the most powerful ways to improve health, lower costs, and strengthen economic stability is through preventive health services.

Preventive care like cancer screenings, well-woman visits, and mental health evaluations helps keep individuals healthy and reduce long-term health care expenses. Safeguarding preventive care is not only smart, but also one of the most compassionate and proactive investments we can make as a state.

How Preventive Care Saves Lives

Preventive care is a cornerstone of public health. These services help detect and treat health conditions early, before they become life-threatening or financially devastating.

Some of the most widely used preventive services include:

• Cancer screenings, such as mammograms, pap smears, colonoscopies, and BRCA genetic testing (used to detect breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers in their early stages when treatment is most effective).
• Cardiovascular screenings, including blood pressure and cholesterol checks,  and statin use, help prevent heart disease in at-risk adults.
• Pregnancy-related care, such as gestational diabetes testing, depression screenings, and preeclampsia prevention with low-dose aspirin, protects pregnant individuals at risk.
• Mental health evaluations, including screenings for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, identify conditions early and prevent crises.
• Routine well-woman and well-child visits monitor development, manage chronic conditions, and provide counseling on lifestyle changes.

In Georgia, millions of people rely on these services each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, increasing colorectal cancer screening rates to 80% could reduce deaths from colorectal cancer by 33% by 2030. Meanwhile, screenings for diabetes and obesity help Georgians manage conditions before they lead to complications like kidney failure or stroke.

The Economic Benefits of Preventive Care

Preventive care isn’t just about screenings or lab tests,  it’s about helping people stay healthy and live full, productive lives. By catching health issues early, we help people stay engaged with their families, maintain their jobs, and avoid medical emergencies that can turn life upside down.

Think about a mom who gets a routine blood pressure screening and starts treatment before it leads to a stroke, or a construction worker who catches diabetes early enough to avoid nerve damage that could take him off the job. These aren’t just good health outcomes; they are life-changing moments that prevent financial strain, lost income, and long recoveries.

When people are healthy, they can better care for their children, support their communities, and contribute to Georgia’s workforce. And when families avoid large medical bills and unpaid time off, they become more financially stable. Preventive care gives people the power to manage their health and secure their futures – before problems become crises.

That’s why it’s so important to protect these services. The cost of prevention is small compared to the high emotional, physical, and financial toll of letting illness go unchecked. Keeping preventive care accessible and affordable is a practical way to protect Georgians’ health and peace of mind.

The Threat to No-Cost Preventive Care

While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) made many preventive services available at no cost to people with private insurance, this protection is now at risk. A case that will be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court later this month—Kennedy v. Becerra (previously known as Braidwood v. Becerra)—could overturn the requirement that insurers cover preventive services without out-of-pocket costs.

If the Court rules against the ACA’s preventive care mandate, the impact on Georgia would be devastating. Nearly 5 million Georgians could lose guaranteed access to these services, including:

• 1.3 million children, who rely on vaccinations, vision checks, and developmental screenings
• 1.7 million workers at small businesses, who depend on employer-sponsored plans that follow federal rules
• Families in rural areas, where timely care is already limited and expensive
• Women who rely on prenatal screenings, postpartum mental health evaluations, and contraception counseling
• Seniors who need osteoporosis screenings, fall prevention support, and healthy diet and exercise counseling

Losing no-cost access to these services would create significant barriers to care, forcing many people to delay or forgo essential services they cannot afford. This would lead to more advanced disease, increased use of emergency care, and poorer health outcomes across the state.

SB 262: Georgia’s Opportunity to Act

Georgia doesn’t have to wait for a Supreme Court ruling to protect its residents. Senate Bill 262 (SB 262) would safeguard no-cost preventive care for people covered by state-regulated insurance plans, regardless of federal decisions.

SB 262 would:

• Require state-regulated health plans to continue covering preventive care without out-of-pocket costs
• Preserve access to screenings for cancers, chronic illnesses, and mental health conditions
• Help small businesses and workers maintain stable and affordable coverage
• Provide consistency for families across urban and rural communities

Most importantly, the bill achieves all of this without increasing government spending or creating new burdens for businesses. It’s a common-sense solution to protect health, economic stability, and peace of mind for millions of Georgians.

While SB 262 did not move forward in this year’s legislative session, the bill can still be passed next year during the second half of Georgia’s two-year legislative cycle. That’s why it’s so important for advocates, health professionals, and everyday Georgians to speak up now.

How You Can Support Preventive Health in Georgia

Preventive care is still available—but we must act to keep it that way. Here’s how you can help:

• Use your preventive benefits. If you have health insurance, take full advantage of no-cost services like checkups, screenings, and mental health evaluations.
• Encourage others to get screened. Family, friends, and coworkers may not know they’re eligible.
• Support Protecting these services. Contact your state legislators and urge them to protect access to preventive care by passing SB 262 in the 2026 session.
• Need help with your insurance? Visit Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Get Help with Health Insurance page for free resources and one-on-one assistance.

Protecting Preventive Care for a Healthier Georgia

Preventive care is one of the most effective ways to save lives, lower costs, and improve public health. During National Public Health Week, we’re reminded that building a healthier Georgia takes ongoing investment, advocacy, and collaboration.

By protecting access to no-cost preventive services, we ensure that all Georgians—no matter their zip code, income, or insurance status—can get the care they need to stay well. Let’s work together to safeguard this essential part of our health care system and create a stronger, more resilient Georgia for generations to come.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 11

The 2025 legislative session is in its final stretch, with just a few days left until Sine Die (the last day of the session) on Friday, April 4th. Lawmakers are racing to finalize key bills and the state budget—and there’s still time for you to speak up.

Things can move quickly in these final days, and last-minute advocacy opportunities may arise. Stay connected with us on social media throughout the week so you don’t miss a chance to take action when it matters most.

After the session ends, we’ll share a full recap, including updates on health care bills that passed (or didn’t), what it all means for Georgians, and any health-related study committees that will convene before next year’s session. In the meantime, you can check out our bill tracker to follow the legislation we’re monitoring as we get closer to Sine Die.

Life is full of changes—some planned, some unexpected. Maybe you just got married, moved to a new city, or lost your job. These big life moments can be overwhelming, and worrying about health insurance shouldn’t add to the stress. 

Each year, Open Enrollment is the time when most Georgians can sign up for health insurance through Georgia Access, the state’s health insurance marketplace. The last Open Enrollment window ran from November 1, 2024, to January 15 of this year. 

If you missed Open Enrollment, don’t worry. You may still be able to sign up for affordable health coverage on Georgia Access, Georgia’s state-based marketplace, through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

What is a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)?

A Special Enrollment Period is a window of time outside of Open Enrollment when you can sign up for health insurance due to major life events. 

You may still be able to get covered through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you’ve recently:

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 10

The 2025 legislative session is in its final stretch, with two weeks left until session ends on April 4th. With only a few legislative days left, lawmakers are working quickly to finalize key bills and the state budget. You can view the legislative schedule here. 

Ending the Practice of Subminimum Wage in Georgia

Last week, the House passed Senate Bill 55, the Dignity and Pay Act. The bill now heads to the Governor for final approval. SB 55 phases out the use of 14(c) certificates in Georgia to pay subminimum wages (below the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr) to workers with disabilities.

Initially intended to promote employment for disabled veterans, Section 14(c) of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) permits paying people with disabilities wages below the statutory federal minimum wage. Section 14(c) can no longer apply to disabled veterans, yet it remains a legal way to pay people with disabilities – usually people with developmental disabilities (DD) – below minimum wage. (Employers using 14(c) waivers often pay disabled employees just pennies per hour.) More than 85 years after the law’s initial passage, the policy has frequently led to exploitation—leaving workers with developmental disabilities earning wages far below the poverty line in roles that offer little chance for growth or advancement.

Access to quality health care isn’t just a service—it’s a basic human right and a key part of a healthy society. This Women’s History Month, we recognize the critical role that health care plays in the lives of women, from preventive screenings and prenatal care to treatments for chronic illnesses and mental health support. Having the right coverage and knowing where to turn for services can make all the difference.

In Georgia, Medicaid is a key resource that helps many women access the care they need. But despite the important protections it offers, many women still fall outside of the eligibility guidelines and remain uninsured.

According to Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families, nearly one in five women between the ages of 18 and 44 in Georgia lacks health insurance—one of the highest rates in the country. The problem is even worse for Hispanic/Latina women, nearly half of whom are uninsured. Black women in Georgia are more than twice as likely as white women to suffer severe complications or die from pregnancy-related causes. Many of these deaths are preventable, yet barriers to care persist.

Georgia’s Medicaid programs offer critical support for eligible women, but they are limited in scope. This blog will help break down the available Medicaid options for women in Georgia, who qualifies, and where to turn for free help enrolling.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 9

With Crossover Day behind us, the pace at the Capitol is picking up. Lawmakers are moving quickly to debate and vote on bills that survived the deadline, while the budget process moves full speed ahead.

Take Action: Advocate for More GHVP Funding!

The Georgia Housing Voucher Program (GHVP) was created to help Georgia meet its legal obligations under the Olmstead Agreement, which requires the state to provide community-based housing for people with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) instead of institutionalizing them. GHVP is a permanent supportive housing program that helps these individuals secure stable housing, avoid homelessness, and access essential services. The program directly pays rent to landlords and provides ongoing support to keep residents housed and connected to care.

Despite its success, GHVP has been underfunded for years. The House added $1.7 million for GHVP in the FY26 budget, but at least $20 million more is needed to expand housing support and fulfill Georgia’s legal and moral obligations. We need your help to urge the Senate Appropriations Health and Human Resources Subcommittee and Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery to increase GHVP funding by $20 million.

Contact the Senate Appropriations Committee today!

House Passes FY26 Budget – What’s Next?

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 8

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.