Getting in Gear

by Dawn A. Randolph, MPA
CEO, Georgia Pharmacy Association 
 
Welcome to our fourth weekly Legislative Update Newsletter of the 2025-2026 Georgia General Assembly Legislative Session.

We'll start once again with a look at key events this week: 
 

Monday, February 3 is Legislative Day ten. While this is the quarter mark for legislative days, we know that most of the work comes fast and furious before Crossover Day until Sine Die. Also, Senate Health and Human Services is scheduled to meet at 2pm, SB 6 is on the agenda. House Health Committee is scheduled to meet at 2pm.

Tuesday, February 4 through Thursday February 6, completes thirteen Legislative Days. Committee meetings will start to be added throughout the week.

OF NOTE: The Senate Rules committee began meeting this week and will generally meet every legislative day upon adjournment. In both chambers, The Rules Committee is a very powerful committee that decides when or if legislation makes it in front of the chamber for a full vote. A piece of legislation can make it out of a committee but cannot be voted upon unless it also passes through the Rules Committee. We anticipate the House Rules Committee will begin meeting soon. Historically House Rules has met at 9am on legislative days.
 
In the Hopper!
 
We hope everyone took action last week on the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) Reimbursement rate bill. (If you missed it, don’t worry – you can still take action: see below!) Rep. Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown) dropped the bill in the hopper* on Thursday. HB 196 would require pharmacies be reimbursed at NADAC plus $10.64 + 4% in the Georgia’s SHBP and university system health plans. Bi-partisan co-sponsors include Chairwoman Darlene Taylor (R - Thomasville), Chairman Matt Hatchet (R - Dublin), Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley (D – Columbus), Chairman Rick Jasperse (R - Jasper), and Governor’s Floor Leader** Rep. Matthrew Gambill (R- Cartersville), among others.
 
We anticipate HB 196 will be assigned a committee later today. Be on the lookout for action alerts on this bill.
 
Talk Legislative = Terms to know and use!
*Hopper: the physical container where bills get filed with the chamber clerks.  There is a House hopper and a Senate hopper.
** Governor’s Floor Leader: Each year the Governor appoints certain members as his Floor Leaders in each chamber to help steer the Governor’s priorities.

Courts and Torts

Courts and Torts were the running themes last week with the State of Judiciary on Tuesday and Governor Kemp unveiling his tort reform package on Thursday (but don’t call it tort reform). 

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs addressed a joint session, reporting that the state of the Judiciary is strong. There are currently seven counties considered “legal deserts” with no licensed attorney. Georgia Supreme Court Judge Carla Wong McMillian and Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Dillard will co-chair an Access to Justice committee, which will bring recommendations on how to address legal access (or lack thereof) across the state. Chief Justice Boggs also highlighted his concerns about the growing number of violent threats judges, their families and judicial staff have endured. At least one piece of legislation has been introduced to protect personal information of judges, such as home address, and there will be a budget request for security enhancements for courthouses.

Governor Kemp packed the House and Senate between the 2^nd and 3^rd from floor to ceiling. He spoke to the crowd about his signature piece of legislation this session. The bill will address:

• Premise Liability - limit businesses being sued for some injuries on their properties;
• Damage Awards - regulate calculation of damages in personal injury cases;
• Seat belt - in some cases allow juries to consider awards based on if someone was wearing a seat belt;
• Attorney's fees – how they are formulated;
• Third-Party Litigation - restrict groups outside Georgia from bankrolling litigation.

The driving force behind all of this issue is the cost of insurance and the cost of litigation. While the crowd was large, it was not unified, and there is much divide on the issue. On one side are businesses and corporations who face rising insurance costs on all fronts, and on the other side are patient advocates and trial attorneys. This may sound simple but it is a very complex issue.

But is this Tort Reform? A “tort” is the legal term for a harmful act leading to a civil lawsuit. “Reform” can bring to mind a process that improves or fixes a problem. Over two decades ago, when Governor Sonny Perdue came to office, Tort Reform was all the rage. But we don’t talk about Tort anymore. The Georgia Supreme Court found medical malpractice caps unconstitutional and there have been other reversals to chip away that effort. So now we talk about litigation change.

And the question remains - does this change get insurance rate relief that is needed?

You can watch the Governor's speech here.