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 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.

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 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 182 was replaced with the language from HB 410. Now, HB 182 makes 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 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 that pharmacies receive fair payment for dispensing medications. The Senate committee voted on an updated version of HB 196, which removed the ability for a pharmacy or beneficiary to sue the PBM if they violate the reimbursement guidelines outlined in the bill, including by adjusting the final price with a prescription drug discount card.

HB 197 strengthens the 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).

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.

HB 268 proposes a range of policies to try to improve school safety, including creating mental health supports, requiring 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. The Senate’s version of the bill removed the S3 Database, which would have been a statewide database run by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) containing information about credible threats to school safety and the students involved in making them. The substitute added language defining a “terroristic threat of a school” as when someone threatens harm pertaining to school in a way that causes fear, disruption, or evacuation and defines criminal punishments for such an act ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony (if a threat of death is made). The substitute also defines a “terroristic act upon a school” as committing a violent or dangerous act with the intent to terrorize or force an evacuation on school property. The language also adds terroristic acts on a school to the list of crimes for which children (ages 13-17) can be tried as adults.

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 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. The bill does not include a requirement to educate enrollees about the trade-offs of an HDHP and the importance of contributing to the HSA.

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 506 requires Georgia Medicaid to cover tobacco cessation treatments, including FDA-approved medications and counseling services. It prohibits limits on the number of quit attempts covered, prior authorization requirements, and cost-sharing (such as copayments or deductibles) for recipients seeking treatment. The bill also directs the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to seek federal approval if necessary to implement these changes.

HB 657 establishes statutory definitions and qualifications for recovery community organizations (RCOs) focused on substance use disorders and formalizes peer specialist certification under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). The bill defines five categories of certified peer specialists, establishes requirements for RCOs, and authorizes DBHDD to designate a single statewide recovery community organization to coordinate the RCO network.

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.

HB 961 would expand Georgia’s surprise out-of-network medical billing protections to emergency ground ambulance rides. HB 961 would require health plans to treat the transport as a covered service when it is ordered by a first responder or treating clinician. For consumers, out-of-network ambulance cost-sharing would be capped at in-network levels, and ambulance providers could not bill patients beyond that amount for covered, paid services. The bill also sets a minimum payment standard for out-of-network ambulance providers and requires insurers to pay them directly (generally within 30 days). These changes could reduce unexpected ambulance bills for patients, though the relatively high required payment rates may increase costs of health insurance over time.

HB 1002 would require the Department of Community Health to transfer Medicaid coverage for foster children from managed care to the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicaid program upon expiration or renewal of the current care management organization contracts. The provision includes an automatic repeal date of December 31, 2028. Foster children have complex, trauma-informed care needs that may be better served through direct access to any Medicaid provider rather than through the more restricted provider networks of Georgia’s Medicaid insurance companies. However, foster children in managed care currently have care coordination services built into their coverage; FFS Medicaid does not inherently include care coordination, which could result in fragmented care. Additionally, the bill does not address how DCH will ensure continuity of care during the transition or what happens after the 2028 repeal date.

This committee is charged with examining gaps in access to quality cancer care; how to increase prevention and early detection efforts; and needs related to care facilities and workforce. The study committee will be made up of five members of the House (appointed by the Speaker of the House) and an additional seven members. The additional members will be two representatives of Georgia’s medical or public health schools; one primary care physician; one community oncologist practicing in a rural community; and one representative from Georgia’s federally qualified health centers; and two others representing cancer survivors, hospitals or medical centers, caregivers, navigators, or other areas of expertise. The committee will complete its work by the end of 2025.

HR 659 creates the House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform to examine Georgia’s rising insurance premiums, reduced coverage options, and lack of competition in the insurance industry. In response to some of the concerns about insurance practices raised during the passage of SB 68 (tort reform legislation), the committee will study issues like rate-setting practices, industry profits, regulatory compliance, and models from other states to identify reforms that could protect consumers from unaffordable premiums and ensure fairness and transparency. The substitute changed the composition of the study committee from seven House members and four non-legislative members to eight House members and three non-legislative members.

This study committee is charged with thoroughly evaluating the most prudent and cost-effective ways to increase access to internal medicine in rural Georgian communities, with particular focus on those rural communities experiencing health transportation shortages. The committee will have eight members, five of whom will be House members and three will be non-legislative members who are licensed health care providers and who are familiar with the needs of rural Georgia.

HR 847 creates the House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health to examine how Georgia’s public health system is structured, funded, and resourced. The committee will study whether current public health investments are adequate to support a sustainable public health infrastructure, improve health outcomes, and reduce preventable deaths. The resolution notes that Georgia has historically underfunded public health, and less than one in every ten state health dollars go to the Department of Public Health. The committee will consist of five members of the House, appointed by the Speaker, and will make recommendations for potential policy or funding changes. The committee would expire on December 1, 2025.

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. Among other changes, the substitute language replaces all references to “gender” in the code section with “sex”, allows for someone who believes they’ve been harmed by another person violating this law to seek damages, and expands the application to include private schools that receive state funding.

SB 5 requires 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. SB 5 was amended by the House to include the language from HB 124, which requires insurers to cover treatment for PANS and PANDAS (autoimmune diseases that can develop after a case of strep throat).

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 some exceptions, increasing penalties for doctors, and allowing parents to sue medical providers. The substitute permits the use of blockers, if approved ahead of time by two psychiatrists or psychologists and under the care of a pediatrician certified in the condition or board-certified. The new language makes it very difficult for a minor currently receiving puberty blocker treatment to continue, but does not fully prohibit it.

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.

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 55 ends the practice of paying people with disabilities less than the minimum wage in Georgia. Right now, some employers use a federal rule (called a 14(c) certificate) that allows them to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. This bill would phase out that rule, making sure all workers with disabilities get paid fairly. By July 1, 2026, employers must pay at least half of the federal minimum wage, and by July 1, 2027, they must pay at least the full minimum wage.

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 & 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.

The original language from SB 91 was removed and replaced with two bills that passed out of the House – HB 373 to require insurers to cover prostate cancer screening and HB 323 to make Medicare Advantage plans available to Georgians under the age of 65 with ALS or end-stage renal disease.

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 Dept 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 nine 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 131 would create a parity compliance review panel within the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council to identify and address mental health parity violations by health insurers and state health care entities. The bill adds the Insurance Commissioner to the Coordinating Council and requires health care providers to report suspected parity violations to the panel using forms and processes the panel establishes. The panel would evaluate these reports, determine whether violations occurred, and recommend punitive actions to the Commissioner of Insurance (for private insurers) and the Commissioner of Community Health (for state-run insurance programs like Medicaid).

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 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 (until Dec. 31, 2026). 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.

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.

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 respond promptly to claims and inquiries and prohibits denials of payment based on prior authorization issues.

SB 428 would direct the Department of Community Health to submit a Section 1915(c) waiver request to CMS by December 31, 2026, to authorize Medicaid reimbursement for home and community-based services (HCBS) for adults over 21 who need mental health services but do not require institutional-level care. Eligibility would be determined based on risk factors, including hospitalization history, psychiatric crises, emergency department visits, prior incarceration, and homelessness.