Legislative Update Week 12:
Celebrating Pharmacy

From Ben Ross, PharmD
President, GPhA Board of Directors
 
Welcome to our twelfth -- and penultimate -- weekly Legislative Update Newsletter of the 2025-2026 Georgia General Assembly Legislative Session.

Key Events This Week: 

Get ready for one last wild week. Committees and floor sessions will go late into the night for the mad dash to get bills passed.

Monday, March 31 is Legislative Day 38. House Health is scheduled to meet at 2pm (expect this to change) with only one bill currently on the agenda. It's important to remember that these agendas are subject to change by the committee chair.

Tuesday, April 1 is a Committee Work Day so keep your eyes on the committee calendar. This is typically the last day for a bill to get out of Senate committee to make it over to Senate Rules on time. House Rules can and will meet several times on Sine Die, adding more to their calendar.

Wednesday, April 2 is Legislative Day 39. Expect the bills and horse trading to go on past dinner.

Thursday, April 3 is a Committee Work Day. Typically, Senate Rules will meet, setting their calendar for Sine Die.

Friday, April 4 Legislative Day 40 or Sine Die! There is one clue the chambers are about to wrap up: members will start tearing bills into strips or pieces of paper to throw like confetti upon adjournment. Legislators, staff, and lobbyists work into the wee hours of the morning, and that is doubly true of the extra janitorial staff that will be on hand for the final hurrah.

HB 196 received passage from the full Senate on Thursday of last week. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone that has called, emailed, and texted in support of this bill.

HB 196, has one final hurdle before making its way over to the Governor’s desk. Since this bill was amended in a Senate committee it goes back over to the House for a final agreement. Sponsor Rep. Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown) has already stated publicly that he agrees with the Senate changes. These changes include adding a definition of Independent Pharmacy as “an entity contracted with the PBM pursuant to an agreement with a single retail pharmacy, or is contracted with the PBM through a pharmacy services administrative organization.” It would change the reimbursement rate for independent pharmacies to NADAC plus $11.50 dispensing fee and adds chain pharmacies to NADAC plus $10.50.

Chairman Matt Brass (R-Newnan) carried the bill on the Senate Floor, and it passed 55-0. Chairman Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) commented that SB 91, another PBM reform bill, did not look promising to get out of the House and asked how to merge the two bills together. This may have been pro-forma question as Chairman Tillery is well versed in the parliamentary procedures. Chairman Brass reiterated that a similar bill was vetoed last year by the Governor and that HB 196 needed to pass as a clean bill for the Governor to consider it.

Examples of ways legislation can change are reflected in HB 14, the Cornbread bill, and SB 5, the pre-authorization bill. We are saddened to report that HB 14, which would declare cornbread as the official state bread of Georgia now has absolutely nothing to do with cornbread. (Not a comment against the latest content of the bill – just in appreciation of good cornbread).

The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism has passed a substituted version of HB 14 using it as a vehicle to create a “Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act” and a provision banning state agencies from buying supplies from companies owned by “foreign country of concern,” specifically China. If HB 14 is passed by the Senate, it would then go back to the House for agree/disagree.

SB 5 is much longer due to action in the House Insurance committee; however, the underlying bill will remain in place. SB 5, sponsored by Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta), would require health insurers to implement and maintain a program that allows for the selective application of reductions in prior authorization requirements under certain circumstances. The Commissioner of Insurance will be tasked with implementation.

Added on to SB 5 is the content of HB 124, HB 373 and HB 323. This version would now require the SHBP to cover treatment for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), expanded screening for prostate cancers, along with creating new Medicare insurance protections for those with ALS and chronic kidney disease. SB 5 is currently awaiting action by House Rules.

Celebrating GPhA 1875 – 2025

On Thursday of last week, the Senate passed SR 478, sponsored by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) recognizing and celebrating the Geogia Pharmacy Association!

Do not forget to register for the 150^th Anniversary Convention. Early Bird for Members Ends at 11:59pm today, Monday, March 31.

The House Resolution will be introduced this week by our members and longtime champions Rules Chairman Butch Parrish (R – Swainsboro) along with Chairman Ron Stephens (R – Savannah). It’s a great way to end our journey through this legislative session.

A RESOLUTION

Congratulating the Georgia Pharmacy Association upon its 150th anniversary; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Georgia Pharmacy Association was founded in October 1875 in Macon, Georgia, by a group of Georgia pharmacists working to further the interests of pharmacy in the state; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Pharmacy Association advocates tirelessly for all involved in the practice of pharmacy, including independent pharmacists, chain retail pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy owners, and pharmacy students; and

WHEREAS, the association has been responsible for advances in education in pharmacy in Georgia, including establishing the first guidelines for pharmacy education and licensure in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, pharmacists in Georgia have been leaders in innovation and discovery, especially in the formulation of products such as Coca-Cola and RC Cola; and

WHEREAS, the Association and its members use their medical training and education to improve the health and well-being of every single resident of Georgia through immunizations, medication therapy management, medication counseling, and more; and

WHEREAS, as the Georgia Pharmacy Association celebrates its 150th anniversary, it continues to act as the Voice of Pharmacy in Georgia, representing the more than 14,000 licensed pharmacists and 26,000 pharmacy technicians in the state as well as the millions of patients in their care.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body congratulate the Georgia Pharmacy Association upon the grand occasion of its 150th anniversary and extend best wishes to each of its members for future health, happiness, and prosperity.

I don’t know about you, but I get goosebumps reading this. Come celebrate with us on Amelia Island June 12-15. We have more surprises in store for you.