Legislative Update 03/16/26

 

As expected, last week was a quieter schedule with legislators and lobbyists all evaluating where bills currently stand and strategizing going into the final push before Sine Die, Legislative Day 40, scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd. Sine Die is Latin for “without a day,” meaning the legislature adjourns without a day to return. Although with the delightful southern accents that roam the Gold Dome, it does occasionally sound like "sunny day." 

 

I am excited to announce a returning event:  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, beginning with an educational breakfast featuring a legislative update and advocacy training, followed by actual advocacy work in the Capitol "working the ropes" and meeting with your representatives and senators. We'll share lunch and debrief our experiences afterwards. 

 

Speaking of sunny days, registration is now open for the annual Georgia Pharmacy Convention and Membership Meeting held June 18-21 at the Omni Amelia Island Resort.  The convention will include more than 20 hours of CPE courses for both pharmacists and technicians, an exhibitor hall, the GPhA annual general membership meeting, awards, networking, and did I mention it’s on the beach?  We are also in the process of re-imagining the closing night festivities on Saturday, June 20, so stay tuned for updates.   

 

In the meantime, if you are a member of AIP, I encourage you to attend the AIP Spring Meeting this weekend in Peachtree City. AEP is hosting a free two-part virtual CE session for all member pharmacists, technicians, and students, delivered by GPhA Board Member Mollie Durham. You can register for the  first session  "Where Am I, and Where Do I Want to Be? Business Goal Planning Part I: SWOT Analysis," which will take place via zoom on March 31 at 7pm.   

 

Finally, I hope you can join your fellow pharmacists, technicians, and students at the upcoming Spring Region Meetings. Our Region Presidents are working diligently to create networking, educational and social opportunities for members and non-members alike. The events are all FREE. Axe throwing, anyone? 

The Georgia General Assembly has completed 30 Legislative Days through Thursday, March 12. Monday, March 16, will be Legislative Day 31. Tuesday, March 17, is a committee workday and the much celebrated, at least in Savannah, St. Patrick's Day. Anticipate a lot of green around the capitol next week. Legislators return on Wednesday, March 18, for Legislative Day 33 and finish their work for the week on Friday, March 20, bringing us to Legislative Day 35.  

 

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to meet at 2pm on Monday, March 16. The annual drug update bill, HB 1329, is on the agenda. 

 

The House Health Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, March 16, at 3pm. SB 91 is listed on the agenda. Faithful readers from last year may remember that SB 91, sponsored by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), was originally a bill targeting PBM reform. After SB 91 passed the Senate in 2025, it was gutted and replaced with the current version of SB 91, expanding screenings for prostate cancer and Medicare insurance protection for people with end-stage renal disease. You can bet we will be watching! 

 

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 Monday of last week, HR 948 passed the House 157-0. HR 948, sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), creates a House Study committee on Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications. Members of the committee would include the House Appropriations Chair, Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin), House Health Committee Chairman Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) and three other members who may be House members or other experts on PBMs as appointed by the Speaker of the House, Rep. Jon Burns. The study committee would then meet later in the year and provide a report or legislative recommendations back to the House for the 2027 legislative session. As a single chamber study committee, HR 948 only needed to pass the House to go into effect.   

 

The Senate is not far behind with SR 927, sponsored by Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia) and co-signed by 27 other senators, which is a mirror resolution of HR 948. The Senate Study Committee member appointments would 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 of the Senate or “experts on pharmacy benefit managers or consumer access to prescription drugs" to be appointed by Lt. Governor Burt Jones.

 

We applaud the House for creating their study committee and encourage the Senate to pass SR 927. GPhA is looking forward to engaging in this work after the session!  

 

The main business at the capitol last week was HB 974, or the FY 2026-2027 appropriations bill. Rep. Matt Hatchett (R- Dublin) walked the House members through the bill. A few highlights are:  

 

 

HB 974 passed the House 159-4 on Tuesday and was immediately transferred over to the Senate. Senate Appropriations subcommittee then took up their side of the process with deeper dives into budget for particular departments.  

 

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services held a two-hour hearing on Wednesday with a focus on the House changes to the Governor's initial budget proposal. First up was Commissioner Kevin Tanner with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). Commissioner Tanner advised the members that the House budget calls for utilizing $12,652,772 of the Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust money for program and services for those with opioid addiction. This is a change from the $12.6 million being provided from the general fund. The Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust is anticipated to receive $1.3 billion over an 18-year period. The Georgia Pharmacy Foundation and UGA are partners on a grant from this trust, providing naloxone and training to rural pharmacies.  

 

Commissioner Dr. Dean Burke and Cody Whitlock with the Department of Community Health (DCH) followed shortly after. The current DCH budget includes hiring two additional pharmacy specialists to support the agency. The cost of these positions will be a 50/50 split between Georgia funds and federal funds. Of interest in their presentation was the House’s request of a “Report on the impact to SHBP and Georgia Medicaid arising from 340B entity purchases, contract pharmacy arrangements and general practices related to 340B drugs, whether self-administered or provider administered by September 1, 2026. The report shall include, but not limited to, an analysis of forgone rebates, impact on premiums, and impact to state employees’ out-of-pocket-cost.” Stay tuned.  

 

Next up was Clint Joiner, Executive Director of the Board of Dentistry and the Board of Pharmacy. The current budget proposal includes a 3% salary increase for the Board of Pharmacy staff, additional funds to hire an executive assistant, and one additional customer representative. Mr. Joiner also advised the members that the customer service representatives for the Board of Pharmacy receive on average 86.5 calls per hour, and call volume can double during licensing renewal periods.  

 

Georgia Drug and Narcotics Agency (GDNA) was represented by Director Dr. Michael Karnbach. Dr. Karnbach advised the committee that GNDA conducts approximately 3,700 inspections a year and aims to inspect pharmacies and medical clinics that dispense prescription medication every 18 months. He also estimated that GDNA conducts around 500 investigations each year. The agency requested funding for two additional Special Agents with the intention of using Federal Asset Forfeiture funds to purchase vehicles and equipment for the new positions. The House version of the budget currently funds one new position.  

 

Once all the various subcommittees meet, HB 974 will go back to the full Senate Appropriations committee and continue its journey in the legislative process.  

 

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: In House Appropriations; Expect Action this week  

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) 

Status: Passed House 171-0; In Senate Health and Human Services 

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 948 House Study Committee on Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications; create  

Sponsor Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)  

Status: Passed House 157-0 

Creates a House Study Committee on PBMs. Committee members would include Chairman of the House Appropriations committee, Chairman of the House Health Committee and three other members appointed by the Speaker of the House. This study committee only requires approval by the House.

 

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) 

Status: Passed Senate 38-17; Passed House 138-21; Back to Senate for Agree/Disagree 

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. This bill was changed in the House Regulated Industries Committee and will go back to the Senate before final passage.  

 

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. 

 

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 

Sponsor Timonthy Bearden (R-Carrollton)  

Status: Passed Senate 33-21; In House Governmental Affairs   

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) 

 

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

Sponsor Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia)  

Status: In Senate Health and Human Services  

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. 

 

PharmPAC relies on donations from members and friends of GPhA -- support our advocacy efforts by making a donation today. Click here to make a one-time donation, or consider making a recurring donation here. 

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.