Crossover Day has come and gone, marking a critical turning point in the 2026 legislative session!

Friday, March 6th was the final day for bills to pass the chamber where they were introduced (the House or Senate) and move to the other chamber for consideration.

Last Wednesday, the House and Senate reached an agreement on the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AY26) state budget. The final version now goes to the Governor for his signature, after which the new spending plan will take effect.

Here is what this budget means for health care, human services, and the programs Georgians rely on:

Life changes fast. Marriage, a move, a new job, or losing coverage can happen to anyone. You may still qualify for health insurance through Georgia Access, even if you missed Open Enrollment.

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. For coverage in 2026, Open Enrollment ran from November 1, 2025, through January 15, 2026. Outside of that window, you typically need to experience a qualifying life event to enroll in or change a plan through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

On Friday, the Georgia Senate passed its version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AY26) state budget by a vote of 49-1. The Senate version takes a different approach to several major health-related investments than the House. Most notably, the Senate goes significantly further than the House in funding mental health infrastructure.

Here is what the Senate version means for health care, human services, and the programs Georgians rely on:

The Big Picture

The Senate budget’s largest, and arguably most significant, investment is the $409 million added for a new 300-bed state mental health hospital, the first built in Georgia since the 1960s. The Senate also increases Medicaid funding above House levels, reverses a proposed $25 million reduction to the state’s reinsurance program, and includes $20 million for graduate medical education at three facilities. At the same time, it scales back the House’s largest foster care investment and reduces the Housing Trust Fund. Statewide, the Senate reduces the one-time salary supplement for state employees from $2,000 (House) to $1,250.

The House is advancing legislation that would give Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner significantly stronger tools to hold insurance companies accountable when they break consumer protection laws. House Bill 1262 would increase fines for violations of mental health parity requirements, surprise billing protections, and other insurance consumer protection laws from $2,000/$5,000 to $10,000/$25,000 per violation.

For large insurance companies, current fines of $2,000 or $5,000 per violation may be too small to deter misconduct. Stronger enforcement tools help ensure that insurance companies actually follow existing consumer protection laws, including mental health parity requirements under HB 1013.

This week at a glance:

• HB 1262 is on the agenda for the House Health Insurance subcommittee tomorrow (Wed., 02/18).
• HB 1002, which would move Georgia’s foster children from Medicaid managed care to a Fee-for-Service Medicaid model, and HB 1192, which would increase budgetary oversight of the Department of Community Health (DCH) and the Department of Human Services, are scheduled to be heard in the House Health Committee tomorrow (Wed., 02/18).
• SB 428, which would allow DCH to apply for a Home and Community Based Services Medicaid waiver for Georgians suffering from severe mental illness, is on the agenda in Senate Health and Human Services tomorrow.

On February 5, the Georgia House of Representatives passed its version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY26) state budget. The amended budget adjusts current-year spending and reflects lawmakers’ priorities for any remaining state dollars.

Here is what the House version means for health care, human services, and the programs Georgians rely on:

The Big Picture

The House budget totals $42.3 billion, a significant increase over the original FY 2026 budget, thanks to $3.3 billion in one-time investments of surplus funds. Among its health-related priorities, the House makes notable investments in Georgia’s foster care system, the health care workforce pipeline, rural health access, and mental health infrastructure. The House largely aligns with the Governor on Medicaid and PeachCare funding, with a few targeted additions.

On Wednesday, January 28, the House Health Committee passed a substitute version of Senate Bill 195, which would allow Georgia pharmacists to dispense pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention without requiring a separate doctor’s prescription. If passed, pharmacists would operate under a statewide protocol developed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy, with oversight from a Georgia-based physician.

The substitute version passed on Wednesday includes new requirements compared to the bill that passed committee unanimously last year:

• Both supervising physicians and pharmacists must reside in Georgia;
• Pharmacists must complete approved training and maintain Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification and liability insurance;
• Patients must have an in-person visit and remain for 15-minute post-administration monitoring; and
• Pharmacists must notify the patient’s primary care provider within 72 hours.

Potential concerns: While framed as patient safety measures, these amendments may limit pharmacist participation and patient access. The in-state residency requirement excludes telehealth-based protocols used in other states, training and insurance requirements add costs that may discourage participation, and the primary care notification requirement could deter individuals seeking confidential services.

GHF supports SB 195 as a meaningful step toward expanding access to HIV prevention in Georgia. Monitoring implementation will be important: if limited pharmacist participation results from the additional requirements, this data could support future amendments to strengthen access while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

For years, caregiving has been treated like something that happens quietly in the background. But here’s the truth: caregiving isn’t a side story anymore. It’s central to American life and to the strength of our workforce.

In Georgia and across the country, that reality is already shaping how people work, care for their families, and engage with our health systems. Yet too often, our policies and workplaces haven’t caught up.

During National Family Caregivers Month, we described caregiving as “love in motion.” It is an act of commitment, resilience, and sacrifice, but love alone doesn’t provide paid leave, affordable services, or mental health support. As caregiving becomes more common, one question grows more urgent: Who is caring for the caregivers?

If your health insurance costs went up this year, you are not alone.

Thousands of Georgians are paying more for their Georgia Access coverage right now. Some have seen their monthly premiums double or even triple. Others have had to choose cheaper plans with higher deductibles or drop coverage completely. These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent real families making difficult decisions about their health and financial security. Are you one of these Georgians?