Legislative Update: ENACTED

A note from Ben: 

I hope you have taken a moment to celebrate the passage of HB 196! 

GPhA is thankful to Rep. Trey Kelley for sponsoring the bill, Chairman Matt Brass for ushering it through the Senate, and finally to Governor Kemp for his signature and support of the measure.   

Chairman Butch Parrish, Chairman Matt Hatchett, Chairman Ron Stephens, Chairman Blake Tillery, and Chairman Larry Walker were with us every step of the way. Please take a moment to reach out and thank them for their support of the profession of Pharmacy. We should also thank our legislators from our districts, as their support and votes made a difference in each step of the legislative process. 

When you are at Convention, make sure to thank our lobbying team, staff members, board members and your fellow pharmacists for their hard work getting this legislation over the finish line. We will have a few of our legislative champions with us at Convention, so please take a moment to thank them in person for their hard work. 

Looking forward to celebrating our 150th Anniversary, June 12-15 during the 2025 Georgia Pharmacy Convention on Amelia Island! 


Ben Ross, PharmD
President, GPhA Board of Directors 
 

PS: I hope you have gotten the memo to bring your semi-formal wear for the President’s Bash. We’re celebrating our last night of Convention with fun, food, and fellowship alongside hundreds of convention attendees.   

Upon Sine Die, the Governor has 40 calendar days to sign, not sign, or veto a piece of legislation. If signed, the bill would become law; if not signed, the bill would still become law. If vetoed by the Governor, it will not become law. Most legislation will become effective on July 1, 2025, unless specifically marked in the piece of legislation as being effective on a different day, such as HB 196’s effective date of January 1, 2026. This was the first year of a two-year session. Bills that did not receive final passage will be eligible for action again in 2026.  

HB 89 Public Health, Department of; require healthcare providers, facilities, and pharmacies to provide the Maternal Mortality Review Committee with psychiatric or other clinical records
Sponsor Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta)
Status: Signed 
The Georgia Department of Public Health collects information and records to provide information to the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. The records and information are collected from all healthcare providers, including pharmacists, to obtain information around a maternal death. This bill will add psychiatric records to the requirements and create a Regional Perinatal Center Advisory Committee.  

HB 196 State employees' health insurance plan; drugs dispensed for self-administration; provisions
Sponsor Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown)
Status: Signed 
This updated version of the bill would require pharmacies be reimbursed at NADAC plus $10.50 for chain pharmacies and $11.50 for independent pharmacies in the Georgia’s SHBP and University System health plans.  The funding is also in the budget HB 68 on pg. 66 line 100.4 for the SHBP ($2,911,921) and pg. 192 line 301.7 for the USG ($2,130,296) for a total of $5,042,217. 
 

HB 473 Controlled substances; Schedule I; provide certain provisions 
Sponsor Ron Stephens (R–Savannah)  
Status: Signed 
It’s the annual update to the list of Schedule 1 drugs. From Acoramidis to Zolbetuximab-clzb there are 61 new dangerous drugs.  

HR 896 Georgia Pharmacy Association; 150th anniversary; recognize
Sponsor Butch Parrish (R-Swainsboro) 
Status: Adopted 
House Resolution recognizing GPhA’s 150th Anniversary! 

SB 5 Private Review Agents; health insurers to implement and maintain a program that allows for the selective application of reductions in prior authorization requirements; provide for annual filing; and to appeal conflicting laws.
Sponsor Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta)  
Status: Signed 
This bill 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. Additions to the bill include requiring the SHBP to cover treatment for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).  
 

SB 6 Controlled Substances; determine whether a controlled substance has been adulterated; authorize the use of testing equipment
Sponsor Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta)
Status: Signed 
Current law shields the user of drug testing equipment in the detection of synthetic opioids in a controlled substance from getting a drug possession misdemeanor charge. This bill would just say all drug testing equipment would be shielded, not restricted to opioid testing strips.  

SB 79 "Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act"; enact
Sponsor Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell)  
Status: Signed 
Changes threshold amount of fentanyl for charges of possession and trafficking. Increase mandatory minimums and fines for possession and trafficking of fentanyl. Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) speaking from the Well (podium in front of the House) referenced a study on pharmacists providing test strips. Stay tuned as GPhA works with UGA to deploy education and naloxone, while not part of the bill we will work to provide more solutions. 

SB 140 Optometrists; Doctor of Optometry to dispense and sell pharmaceutical agents to patients under certain conditions; provide
Sponsor Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming)  
Status: Signed 
Scope of Practice bill to allow Optometrists to use, dispense and sell pharmaceutical drugs to treat eye conditions and diseases. 

SR 478 Georgia Pharmacy Association; congratulate 
Sponsor Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta)  
Status: Adopted 
Senate Resolution recognizing GPhA’s 150th Anniversary!