Legislative Update 03/23/26

 

Last week was busy under the Gold Dome with legislators, lobbyists, and capitol staff all keeping their eyes on the calendar and the clock. With five Legislative Days left and the schedule to adjourn Sine Die on April 2, there is a lot of work ahead, including passage of FY 27 Budget. This late in the session, sponsors whose bills did not crossover are looking for appropriate bills to attach part of or the entirety of their original legislation to bills that are further in the process. In legislative terms they are looking for a “vehicle.” Generally, any bill in a code section is fair game – an education bill could be added to another education bill, but not to a tax bill since it’s a different code section. Most of the bills dealing with the practice of pharmacy are in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) Title 16.  

 

SB 440, sponsored by Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta), a bipartisan code update dealing with the Department of Public Health touches on Title 16, 19, 31 48 and 49. In the House Public and Community Health committee, Rep. Karen Mathiak (R-Griffin) proposed an amendment to SB 440 with similar language to her bill HB 1089, which dealt with code section 16. SB 440, as amended by committee, will allow the selling of Ivermectin to anyone 18 years or older and behind the counter in a pharmacy without a prescription. During the hearing it was asked if the State Pharmacy Board supported the bill since it would require the Board to adopt rules and regulations around Ivermectin. Chairwoman Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) advised the committee that the State Pharmacy Board has not contacted her about this bill. SB 440 passed out of committee by a divided vote and is currently awaiting action in House Rules. You can watch the committee discussion here.  

 

In a similar move, SB 91, sponsored by Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), has been gutted and replaced for the second time in its legislative journey. SB 91 was originally a bill targeting PBM reform. After SB 91 passed the Senate in 2025, it was gutted and replaced with a different version of SB 91, expanding screenings for prostate cancer and Medicare insurance protection for people with end-stage renal disease.  In the House Health committee last week, SB 91 was replaced with its original intent of PBM reform. SB 91 would ban the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) from contracting with any PBM that also owns a retail pharmacy. SB 91 is awaiting action by the House Rules committee. 

 

I invite you to join us for Pharmacy Day at the Dome on Wednesday, March 25, from 8am -1pm at the Georgia State Capitol. We will gather in person and in force to advocate on behalf of the profession of pharmacy. You can watch the sausage being made live and in person.   

The Georgia General Assembly has completed 35 Legislative Days through Friday, March 20. Looking ahead at the rest of the calendar: 

 

 

House Rules committee is next scheduled to meet on Monday, March 23 at 9am. Quick reminder that the rules committee places bills on the calendar for a full floor vote. House Rules committee can and will meet at any time, adding on a supplemental calendar of additional bills.  

 

Senate Rules Committee is next scheduled upon adjournment of the Senate Floor session. The Senate Rules Committee rarely has supplemental calendars.  

 

House Health committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, March 23 at 2pm. The agenda is here.  

 

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to meet at 2pm on Monday and again on Wednesday, March 25. No agendas were posted at the time of this writing.  

 

It’s likely that these committee times may be pushed back, depending on the length of the floor session as both bodies work to get bills passed.  The committee meeting notices here.  

On Friday of last week Governor Kemp signed two bills, HB 1000 and HB 1199. HB 1199, sponsored by Rep. John Carson (R-Marietta), has had several changes throughout the process but a particularly urgent change last week. HB 1199 was amended to suspend the collection of state taxes on gasoline and diesel for sixty days. This tax is approximately $0.33 on a gallon of gas and $0.37 on a gallon of diesel.  

 

You may remember that in previous years Governor Kemp has suspended the tax collection by executive order. While the legislature is in session, the Governor does not have the authority to suspend the tax collection via executive order. If the legislature is out of session, the Governor can exercise the power through executive order, but such order is then ratified by the General Assembly the next time it is in session. This tax suspension went into effect upon Kemp’s signature.  

 

HB 1000, sponsored by the Governor’s Floor Leader Rep. Matthew Gambill (R-Cartersville), creates an income tax rebate for those that file state income tax return. A single filer will receive $250; head of household $375; and married filing jointly will receive $500. This rebate was included in Governor Kemp’s priorities outlined in his final State of the State earlier this session. HB 1000 went into effect upon the Governor’s signature but may take some time to be issued through the Department of Revenue.  

Early last week, Senate Health and Human Services passed out SR 927, creating a Senate Study committee on Pharmacy Benefit Managers Reform. SR 927, sponsored by Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia), calls for the member appointments to be the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia); the Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Sen. Ben Watson (R-Savannah); and three other members to be appointed by Lt. Governor Burt Jones. This is a mirror resolution of HR 948. SR 927 is awaiting action by the Senate Rules Committee.  

 

SB 220, Putting Georgia’s Patient First Act, sponsored by Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan), was back on the senate floor on Wednesday of last week. SB 220 originally passed out of the Senate in March of last year and was changed over in the House and passed the full House on March 12 of this year. The current version of SB 220 would replace “Low THC Oil” with “medical cannabis” throughout various code sections and renaming the “Low THC Oil Patient Registry” the “Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.” This bill would change the dosage limit from a percentage to milligrams, set the limit at 12,000 milligrams and expand the delivery method to include vaporizer and additional qualifying conditions. Once back to the Senate to approve the changes by the House, Senators had their own changes to the bill and amended to include individuals with Lupus, and that medical cannabis cards would be issued in both physical and electronic form. Electronic cards would allow immediate purchase of medical cannabis products. SB 220 now goes back to the House for agree/disagree to the Senate’s changes.  

 

One bill that did receive final passage last week was HB 1329, or the annual drug update bill. Sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) and carried in the Senate by Sen. Ben Watson (R-Savannah), this bill updates more than fifty drugs, from Aceclidine to Zopapogene imadenovec-drba and would allow dispensing of epinephrine nasal spray of 2mg or less OTC. HB 1329 was not changed from its original version and has received unanimous passage from both chambers. It is now off to the Governor’s desk for a signature or veto.  

HB 382 Controlled substances; Schedule I; psilocybin; revise a provision 

Sponsor Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)  

Status: Passed House 167-0; In Senate Health and Human Services  

Drugs containing a synthetic version of psilocybin and approved by the Food and Drug Administration would not be defined as Psilocybin. This would allow for use in treatment of mental health, including PTSD, in patients. Would remove the certified technician requirements in the tech to pharmacist ratios. A pharmacist could supervise up to four pharmacy technicians but adds that a pharmacist cannot supervise more than six individuals, including interns and externs.  

 

HB 419 Education; require possession of opioid antagonists by institutions within University System of Georgia 

Sponsor Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) 

Status: Passed House 165-0; In Senate Higher Education  

All colleges in the University System of Georgia will be required to have opioid antagonist and defibrillators on campus. Allows for possession of opioid antagonists by students and faculty. Provides some protection from civil liability when acting in good faith in decisions to apply or not apply an opioid antagonist. Allows for community groups and grants to fund access to antagonists. 

 

HB 974 General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 

Sponsor Jon Burns (R - Newington)  

Status: Passed House 160-0; In Senate Appropriations  

Budget for FY 2027. More budget documents can be found here. 

 

HB 1138 Increasing Access to Contraceptives Act; enact 

Sponsor Beth Camp (R-Concord) 

Status: Passed House 162-4; In Senate Health & Human Services 

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.  

 

HB 1329 Controlled substances; Schedule I; provide certain provisions 

Sponsor Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) 

Annual Drug update bill for over fifty drugs, Aceclidine to  Zopapogene imadenovec-drba. There is added language on dispensing epinephrine nasal spray of 2mg or less OTC. 

 

HB 1344 Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact 

Sponsor Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) 

Status: Passed House 166-3; In Senate Insurance & Labor   

37-page bi-partisan bill raising fees and penalties that the Insurance and Fire Safety Commission may impose on entities found in violation of many code sections. If a person or entity is found to be acting as a PBM without a license or violating regulations, the violation fine would rise to $4,000 to $20,000 depending on the severity of the violation. It is currently $2,000 to $10,000.  

 

HR 1794 Commissioner of Insurance; conduct a comprehensive review of prescription drug pricing and identify strategies to reduce the cost of prescription medications; urge 

Sponsor Bryce Berry (D-Atlanta) 

Status: House Hopper  

Resolution urging the Commissioner of Insurance to conduct a review of prescription drug affordability including roles of manufacturers, PBMs, pricing structures, insura market practices and claims data.  

 

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 155-7; Back to Senate for Agree/Disagree  

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, 2027. 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 220 Putting Georgia's Patients First Act; enact  

Sponsor Matt Brass (R-Newnan) 

This bill would replace “Low THC Oil” with “medical cannabis” throughout various code sections and renaming the “Low THC Oil Patient Registry” the “Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.” The updated version of this bill would change the dosage limit from a percentage to milligrams and set the limit at 12,000 milligrams. It expands the delivery method to include vaporizer and qualifying conditions. 

 

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

Sponsor Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta)  

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

Bipartisan code update dealing with the Department of Public Health. Removes outdated language on the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). The Georgia Department of Public Health has asked for these updates to remove the requirement that the department establish a PDMP Electronic Database Review Advisory Committee, charged with consulting with and advising the department on matters related to the establishment, maintenance, and operation of electronic prescription review. The Electronic Database Advisory Committee has not met since 2023 and was largely composed of DPH staff. The program will still engage partners in the development of improvements to the PDMP, but a statutorily established committee is no longer necessary per DPH. 

 

SR 927 Senate Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications Study Committee; create  

Sponsor Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia)  

Status: Passed Health and Human Services; In Senate Rules   

Creates a Senate Study Committee on PBMs. Committee members would include Chairman of the Senate Appropriations committee, Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and three other members appointed by the Lt. Governor. This study committee only requires approval by the Senate. Mirror language of HR 948 has already received passage.  

 

 

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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These updates and alerts are a benefit of GPhA membership to keep our members in the know. GPhA believes it is valuable information to help you be a better pharmacist, pharmacy technician, and pharmacy owner.

 

You can find your representative at My Voter Page. Visit Legislative Website to find out more about your representative & senator.