Legislative Update 02/9/2026

 

If the General Assembly is a circus, which is sometimes true, then the House Chamber was the center ring this week. Only two individuals receive the honor of addressing a Joint Session of the legislature – the Governor and the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. The honor of hosting the joint session usually falls to the House Chamber, as the facility is equipped to support more members (180 Representatives vs. 56 Senators).  

 

On Wednesday of last week, Chief Justice Nels Peterson addressed the Joint Session for the State of the Judiciary. Chief Justice Peterson reported that “Georgia’s judiciary is strong, because Georgia’s commitment to the rule of law is strong.” The theme of the speech was “that no person is above the law’s requirements, or beneath its protections.” Chief Justice noted that there are eight counties without a lawyer and 54 counties with less than ten, and there is an uneven disbursement of case load across the state. He then touched on the Court’s role as the third branch of government and not playing for any team; wearing robes, not jerseys; and conducting themselves with independence and impartiality. You can watch or read the entire speech here.  

 

The following day, all eyes were on the House chamber once again for the passage of HB 973, the supplemental budget for FY 26.  Before the floor vote, HB 973, went through various subcommittees, appropriation committee and Rules committee.  By the end of the week on Thursday, the House passed the supplemental (amended) FY26 budget by a vote of 167-5. It now moves to the Senate (more details below). 

 

The House Health Subcommittee of Appropriations is chaired by Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) which has jurisdiction over the Departments Public Health, Community Health and the Board of Pharmacy.  The House Human Resources Subcommittee of Appropriations is chaired by Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) and handles Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Human Services and Veteran Affairs. The notable items here are all state employees receiving a one-time $2,000 salary supplement and a reduction in their State Health Benefits contribution from 29.454% to 20.264%, which is a nice adjustment in an election year. 

 

The House Chamber became a committee of the whole on Thursday to review and pass the budget out of their chamber. Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin) presented the bill with a few dad jokes thrown in. Chairman Hatchett advised the committee that through his crystal ball, next year’s supplemental budget may go on a GLP-1 since revenue estimates are down.  

 

A few highlights and additions from the House:  

 

The biggest change from the Governor’s proposed budget is changing the income tax refund to a property tax refund. Rep. Hatchett reported that HB 973 has $850 million earmarked for the Homeowner Tax Relief program. He then referenced HB 1001 which would continue the path toward lowering the state income tax to 4.9%. The Speaker of the House has made it known he favors lowering property taxes while the Senate leadership is in favor of eliminating the income tax in its entirety. Watch for the income tax vs. property tax policy to ping-pong between the House, Senate, and the Governor’s office as both budgets move through the process.  

The Georgia General Assembly has completed fourteen Legislative Days through Friday, February 6. Legislative Days will resume on Monday, February 9 with LD 15 and continue through Thursday, February 12, for LD 18. The legislators, staff and lobbyists will then take a long break for Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. Leading up to the break, we can expect a few points of personal privilege (a parliamentary motion allowing a member to interrupt proceedings to address urgent matters affecting their comfort, safety, or ability to participate in a meeting) thanking spouses and family members. 

 

On Monday, February 9, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to meet at 1pm, taking up one bill about assisted living communities. House Health Committee is scheduled to meet at 2pm with several bills around pharmacy: HB 810 Commercial Reimbursement Rates, HB 1089 Ivermectin as OTC, and HB 1138 “Increase Access to Contraceptives Act,” which would allow pharmacists to administer hormonal contraceptives. We will be watching! 

 

On Tuesday, February 10 at 7am, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Development will meet to discuss the supplemental budget, including budget for the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Department of Community Health and Departments on Public Health. 

 

Of course, there will be more, and committee times and agendas will often change. You can view the committee meeting notices here.  

As the march towards Crossover Day -- LD 28 -- picks up tempo, some committees may add legislation to their agenda as “Hearing Only.” Hearing Only is an indication that the Chair of the committee does not intend to take a vote during that meeting, and that the sponsor, cosponsors, committee chair and others will continue to work together to craft tighter bill language. Of course, some committee chairs are more reliable than others in either sticking with “hearing only” during the meeting or their commitment to work on the bill with the sponsor.  

 

HB 326 received Hearing Only in the House Health Committee on Monday of last week. HB 326, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Au (D-Johns Creek) seeks parity requirements for nonopioid pain management drug coverage in the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP). It would mandate that qualifying nonopioid drugs receive the same deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and coverage limitations as opioid alternatives. Rep. Au stated she was open to the idea of adding the Medicaid program to the bill, but that using the SHBP would be a more static population to start first to track the fiscal impact to the state.  

 

Several individuals testified in support of the bill, highlighting their belief that such parity would lower the fiscal cost to the state and lower the rate of substance abuse of opioids. HB 326 is a bi-partisan bill and committee Chair Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) is a cosponsor. We anticipate this bill will come before the committee again.  

 

Scheduled for a Hearing Only today in House Health is HB 1138, sponsored by Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord). HB 1138, Increasing Access to Contraceptives Act, would allow pharmacists, under a joint protocol agreement, to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives and administer injectable hormonal contraceptives without a patient-specific prescription. The Composite Medical Board and the Board of Pharmacy would join in a joint protocol agreement and be responsible for approving training for pharmacists, self-screening risk assessments for the patient, and other requirements. 

 

HB 326 State Health Benefit Plan Nonopioid Coverage Parity Act; enact  

Sponsor Michelle Au (D–Johns Creek)  

Status: In House Health 

This bipartisan bill would require Georgia’s State Health Benefit Plan to cover non-opioid pain management drugs at the same level as opioid pain medications. It also prevents the plan from imposing extra restrictions, such as prior authorization or step therapy, on non-opioid alternatives unless similar restrictions exist for opioids. 

 

HB 810 Insurance; require that final reimbursements to pharmacies for prescription drugs are based on certain formulas 

Sponsor Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper)  

Status: In House Health; Hearing Schedule for Monday, February 9  

Require PBMs reimburse Pharmacies at NADAC plus $10.64 dispensing fee. The dispensing fee would be adjusted every year by the Commissioner of Insurance based on the Consumer Price Index. Prohibits PBMs from paying different rates to affiliated and nonaffiliated pharmacies. 

 

HB 973 Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 

Sponsor Jon Burns (R-Newington)  

Status: Passed House, In Senate Appropriations  

Supplemental Budget for FY 2026. More budget documents can be found here. 

 

HB 1089 Controlled substances; ivermectin as an over-the-counter medication; provide 

Sponsor Karen Mathiak (R-Griffin)  

Status: In House Health, Hearing schedule for February 9  

This bill would allow Ivermectin to be sold over the counter. Similar bill to SB 366 whose sponsor has resigned to run for a different office.  

 

 HB 1119 Labor and industrial relations; pharmacy care guidelines and pharmacy management networks under workers' compensation; provide 

Sponsor Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton) 

Status: In Industry and Labor 

This bill would create a pharmacy management network in the state's workers' compensation system. It defines and limits prescribing and dispensing practices, allows employers to contract with pharmacy management networks, sets notification and reimbursement procedures, and exempts such networks from certain insurance regulations. 

 

HB 1138 Increasing Access to Contraceptives Act; enact 

Sponsor Beth Camp (R-Concord) 

Status: In House Health, Hearing schedule for February 9 

This bill would allow pharmacists, under a joint protocol agreement, to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives and administer injectable hormonal contraceptives without a patient-specific prescription. The Composite Medical Board and the Board of Pharmacy would join in a joint protocol agreement and be responsible for approving training for pharmacists, self-screening risk assessment for the patient, and other requirements.  

 

SB 195 Pharmacies; pharmacists are authorized to dispense preexposure prophylaxis and postexposure prophylaxis under certain conditions; provide 

Sponsor Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome)  

Status: Passed Senate 55-0; Passed House Health; In House Rules  

Bi-partisan bill allowing pharmacists to dispense PrEP and PEP treatment. Before dispensing or administering PrEP or PEP medication to a patient, a pharmacist will need to complete a training program accredited by ACPE and approved by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. The Board of Pharmacy will need to approve the training program by January 1, 2026. The patient may present a negative HIV test taken within the previous seven days, or the pharmacist may order and administer a CLIA-waived HIV test.  

 

SB 423 Government Transparency; campaign committees, independent committees, political action committees, and leadership committees from accepting contributions or donations from non-Georgia persons that exceed 50 percent of all contributions received; prohibit 

Status: In Senate Ethics  

This bill would prohibit campaigns, leadership committees, and political action committees from accepting more than fifty percent of their donations from donors out of state. (PharmPAC would be well within this limit should this bill pass) 

 

SB 440 Department of Public Health; provisions relative to duties or functions; modernize and update 

Sponsor Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta)  

Status: In Senate Health and Human Services 

Bipartisan code update dealing with the Department of Public Health.  Removes outdated language.  

 

PharmPAC is the Georgia Pharmacy Association’s political action committee, established to advocate on behalf of all of pharmacy practice in the state to protect the rights of pharmacy employees, protect the practice of pharmacy in the state, elect candidates who champion pharmacy and pharmacists, and bring important policy issues to the attention of elected officials in Georgia.

 

PharmPAC works at the local and state levels, leading the way in influencing pharmacy-related legislation. An investment in PharmPAC is an investment in the future of pharmacy across the entire state, protecting the long-term health of the practice of pharmacy for independent pharmacy owners, employee pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians so that the vital work of these health care professionals can continue in the best interests of the people of Georgia – your patients. 

 

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