Legislative Update 01/26/2026

The Joint Appropriation Hearing started off Tuesday of last week with Chairman Matt Hatchett (R -Dublin) and Chairman Blake Tillery (R –Vidalia) reminding members that last year’s budget week was cancelled due to winter weather and a reminder of the winter weather forecast to come. The Appropriation Committees in both chambers take up two different budgets every year. The ‘little budget’ is the supplemental budget for FY 2025-2026, and the ‘big budget’ is for FY 2026-2027. Georgia’s fiscal year runs July 1 – June 30. The Governor’s full budget recommendations for FY 27 can be found here and for the FY 26 supplement budget here. 

 

Speaking of...Governor Kemp, while addressing the joint hearing, continued outlining his priorities; protecting reserve funds, tax rebates and lowering the state income tax rate. Included in the supplemental budget recommendations is $2.3 billion for transportation projects – ports, bridges, airports, and roads. Under education funding, Kemp is proposing an additional $58 million to fund HOPE scholarships and grants and a one-time endowment of $325 million to create a merit-based DREAM scholarship.  

 

Over the three-day hearing, Commissioners and department heads appear before the committee, updating the General Assembly on their agency goals and budget needs. Dr. Dean Burke, Commissioner of the Department of Community Health, began his presentation reporting the implementation of HB 196 was going well without any major hiccups, and noting that this change was a priority of many members of the assembly and pharmacies. Commissioner Burke reported compliance with changes in H.R. 1 enacted by U.S. Congress. Included with changes on the federal level is the Rural Health Transformation Grants. Dubbed GREAT Health, the Georgia’s Rural Enhancement and Transformation Health program has received $218,862,169.63 from the federal government. Portions of this money will be used for workforce development, facility upgrades, technology upgrades, and improved access to care.  

 

Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, reported on the basics of her agency. It encompasses 18 public health districts, 159 county Boards of Health and services for 11 million Georgians. The department’s core functions include immunizations, WIC administration, STD services, women’s health services, and children’s health services, among others. More than half of their budget comes from federal sources. DPH has two Public Health Laboratories, one in Decatur and one in Waycross. Included in the proposed FY 2027 is $28,866,560 to fund the Public Health Laboratory program against bioterrorism in advance of global events in Atlanta, like the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl.  

 

The passing of a budget is the only constitutionally mandated action the General Assembly must complete every year and is a session-long process. Next stops are the Appropriation subcommittees which will begin meeting this week. We will update you all as it moves through the process. 

The Georgia General Assembly has completed five Legislative Days through Friday, January 16. Legislative Days will resume on January 26, with LD 6 and continue through Thursday, January 29, for LD 9.  

 

Today, Monday January 26, LD 6, is forecasted (as of this writing) to have inclement weather (an ice storm), so instead of a full day of legislating, one member will be present to gavel in and immediately gavel out per the notice from the Speaker of the House. This will keep legislators, Capitol staff and lobbyists from traveling during the State of Emergency and free up some Georgia State troopers for emergency response across the state. In legislative terms they are ‘burning a day’; however this early in the session it is hard to tell if this will impact the speed of bills. Committee meetings have been shifted to later in the week.  

 

The House Appropriation Subcommittee on Health is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, January 27.  

 

House Health Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, January 28 at 2pm. One item of note on their agenda is SB 195 PEP / PrEP which is one of GPhA’s Legislative Priorities.   

 

Of course, all of this might change even in good weather so keep your eyes on the schedule.  

As previously reported, the 2026 election cycle has begun impacting the Georgia General Assembly. And then of course the major events like job changes, family matters, an indictment, and sadly, a death in office, have brought in new legislative faces.  

 

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton) passed away this fall after a long battle with cancer.  She is remembered as a fierce advocate for children and survivors of domestic violence.  Rep. Bill Fincher (R-Canton) won the special election on January 6, 2026, to fill the position.  

 

Former Rep. Shelley Hutchinson (D-Snellville) announced her resignation in advance of the 2025 November general election. Rep. Hutchinson noted that she has a family member with an Alzheimer's diagnosis and would be stepping away to focus on their care. Rep. Akbar Ali (D-Lawrenceville) won the special election for this seat. Rep. Ali is the youngest Georgia House member.  

 

Shortly after session ended in 2025, Former Senator Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) resigned his seat after he was appointed to the position of U.S. Treasurer by President Trump. His signature will now be on all U.S. dollars minted after he assumed the role. Senator Jason Dickerson (R-Canton) won a special election for that district. Former Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville) also cited a business opportunity when he resigned from office. Rep. Eric Gisler (D- Watkinsville) won the special election for that district, flipping a district from Republican to Democrat.  

 

Former Senator Jason Esteves (D-Atlanta) resigned his seat to focus on his campaign for Governor. Senator Jaha Howard (D-Smyrna) was the prevailing candidate in the special election.  Similarly, Former Senate Pro-Tem John Kennedy (R-Macon) resigned his seat as he is running for Lt. Governor. The special election was held last Tuesday, January 20, and the top two vote getters will face off once again in a run-off on February 17. A Democrat was the top vote getter and will face the second top candidate, who is a Republican. 

 

Former Rep. Lynn Heffner (D-Augusta) resigned her seat on January 1, 2026. In her resignation, Rep. Heffner stated she was still recovering from Hurricane Helene and because of the damage she would be unable to retain her residency in the district. The special election for this seat will take place on March 10, with a run-off if needed on April 7. The same special election date of March 10 is set to replace Former U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-U.S. District 14), and Former Georgia Senator Colton Moore (R-Trenton) who resigned to run for Greene's U.S. Congressional Seat.

 

Included on that March 10 special election date is the election to replace Former Rep. Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), who resigned earlier this year and pleaded guilty to pandemic relief unemployment fraud last week. Rep. Sharon Henderson (D-Covington) was suspended by the Governor on Thursday of last week after being indicted on similar charges. Rep. Henderson has indicated that she intends to fight the charges and has hired an attorney. 

 

If you live in any of these districts, please reach out to the newly elected House Member or Senator and let them know you are a local resource in all things pharmacy. 

With no legislative days last week, there was no official introduction of new legislation. The list of bills will be back next week.  Which gives us space to talk about a very important bi-partisan issue – the Official Chicken Wing Flavor of Georgia!  

  

Reps. Eric Bell (D-Jonesboro), Dexter Sharper (D-Augusta), Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton), David Huddleston (R-Roopville) and Mekyah McQueen (D-Smyrna) have teamed up to declare one chicken wing flavor supreme. Faithful readers may remember Rep. Carpenter for this work declaring cornbread the official state bread of Georgia.  

 

“SECTION 1. 

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:   

 

(1) Chicken wings have long been a staple of American cuisine, with the Buffalo flavor   

first rising to prominence in the late 20th century;   

(2) In 1982, J.R. Crickets, an Atlanta-based restaurant, introduced the chicken wing to   

Georgia, bringing with it the standard Buffalo flavor that quickly became a culinary   

mainstay;   

(3) Over the years, Georgians elevated chicken wings into a cultural experience, giving   

birth to unique local flavors and traditions;   

(4) Among these, lemon pepper has emerged as a flavor that is distinctly tied to Georgia,   

representing creativity, boldness, and Southern hospitality; 

(5) Lemon pepper wings are enjoyed in countless variations, whether Buffalo with lemon   

pepper sprinkles, "lemon pepper wet," all flats, or hot honey lemon pepper;   

(6) Lemon pepper wings resonate across Georgia communities, transcending race,   

region, and class, and bring people together at cookouts, family gatherings, sporting   

events, and neighborhood restaurants;   

(7) Atlanta culture has carried lemon pepper wings to global recognition, through   

references in music by artists such as Gucci Mane, Ziggy2Playa, and Rick Ross; the   

celebrated NBA star Lou Williams, affectionately named "Lemon Pepper Lou"; and   

countless other cultural nods; and   

(8) Just as peaches symbolize Georgia's agricultural pride, lemon pepper wings   

symbolize Georgia's cultural flavor and global culinary influence.   

 

SECTION 2.   

Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other   

state symbols, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:   

"50-3-96.   

Lemon pepper wings are designated as the official Georgia state chicken wing flavor." 

This is the second year of the two-year biennium. Legislators are elected for two-year terms, and the legislative session will span 2025-2026. The Georgia General Assembly has a very easy-to-navigate website. You can find your representative at My Voter Page and then go to the Legislative Website to find out more about your representative. Georgia has 180 House members and 56 Senators. 

 

The Georgia Legislature runs 40 Legislative days. Legislative Days are when both the House and Senate convene for Floor Sessions. Committees will meet on both legislative days and non-legislative days. The floor schedule is set by an Adjournment Resolution HR 998.   

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.