Legislative Update 1/19/2026

On Thursday of this week, Governor Kemp gave his final State of the State address to a joint session of the House and Senate. Included was the usual fanfare of escort committees, attendance of Georgia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges, recognition of constitutional officers, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and special guests including the Kemp family.  

Governor Kemp reported that “state of our state is stronger, more prosperous, and safer today than it was in January 2019.” You can view the entire speech here or read it here.  

Tax policy hit center stage quickly with Governor Kemp focusing on lowering tax rates and preserving the rainy-day fund at $10 billion dollars. For the fourth year in a row, Kemp is recommending a tax rebate of $250 for individuals and $500 per couple from this surplus in his budget proposal and restated his commitment to gradually lowering income tax to finally reach his goal of a flat tax at 4.99%.  

A highlight of the Governor’s speech is the creation of a needs-based DREAMS scholarship for the University System, with an initial one-time endowment of $325 million from the state with a challenge to private donors to bring the scholarship fund up to $1.5 billion.

Included in the budget proposal is a one-time $2,000 supplemental bonus to state employees, including teachers, and $40.7 million in medical workforce training programs and healthcare education facilities. An additional $1.8 billion for new express toll lanes on I-75 in Henry County and $200 million for GA 316 improvements are included in the budget proposal, as previously announced at Eggs and Issues, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative event.  

The Governor’s full budget recommendations for FY 27 can be found here and the FY 26 supplemental budget can be found here.  

For the first time in modern history, the Georgia General Assembly set the full session schedule on the first day of business. House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration (R- Mulberry) and Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) and each chamber has agreed to HR 998, setting the Legislative Days.

Of note is Crossover Day (LD 28), the last day for a bill to ‘Crossover’ to the other Chamber, scheduled for Friday March 6, and Sine Die (LD 40), the last day of the legislative session, is scheduled for Thursday April 2. Of course, all of this depends on the passage of the budget, which is the only constitutionally mandated activity. 

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.  

Tuesday, January 20 – Thursday, January 22 – Joint Meeting of the House and Senate Appropriation committees, dubbed "Budget Week." Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities, Commissioner of the Department of Community Health, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health and the Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety are all scheduled to appear on Wednesday.  

The House Health Committee held the first committee meeting of the new session. GPhA Member Kevin Woody and the Vice President of the Academy of Independent Pharmacy, Jonathan Marquess were invited to give the committee an update on Independent Pharmacy in Georgia. Among the items discussed was the impact of HB 196, passed last year, and its implementation starting on January 1, 2026.  

Jonathan Marquess reported to the committee that of the 156 counties in Georgia, there are six counties with no pharmacy at all, and 42 counties are served by only independent pharmacies. Kevin Woody gave real-life examples of underwater reimbursement and its impact on patients’ access to care. Too many independent pharmacies have closed in the last seven years. Kevin Woody encouraged the House Health Committee to consider changing commercial reimbursement rates, so they are comparable to those established by HB 196 for the State Health Benefit Plan.  

He also educated members on the roles of Pharmacy Benefit Managers and how comprehensive PBM reform can help the survival of independent pharmacies in Georgia.  

We applaud Kevin Woody and Jonathan Marquess for advocating on behalf of independent pharmacies for accessible, affordable and fair reimbursement for medication. You can watch the video here.  

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.   

For a bill to become law, it can be introduced in either chamber. The bill will then be assigned to a committee. As this is the first week of session, most bills on this list were recently introduced and assigned to a committee. That does not guarantee a committee hearing and further movement through the legislative process. We will keep you updated as committee meetings start hearing bills, which is generally around the 3rd week of session.

There are 999 House Bills, 1031 House Resolutions, 410 Senate Bills, and 581 Senate Resolutions with more on their way soon. You can view the whole list here.  

HB 923 Pharmacies; furnish patients with written informational material when dispensing certain prescription drugs; require 

Sponsor Leesa Hagan (R - Lyons) 

Status: In House Health  

This bill would require pharmacies to provide written information to patients when dispensing Schedule II drugs and require pharmacies to offer at least one disposal method of prescription drugs either for purchase, on site or for free. GPhA advocacy team has already reached out to the sponsors to discuss the impact of this bill on local pharmacies – stay tuned.  

HB 968 Controlled substances; mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) are Schedule I; provide 

Sponsor Rick Townsend (R - Brunswick) 

Status: In House Judiciary Non-Civil  

This bill would add mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine  to the list of Schedule I drugs.  

HB 973 Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 

Sponsor Jon Burns (R - Newington)  

Status: In House Appropriations 

Supplemental Budget for FY 2026.  More budget documents can be found here.  

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

Sponsor Jon Burns (R - Newington)  

Status: In House Appropriations 

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

HB 981 Professions and businesses; expand certain advanced practice registered nurse and physician assistant prescriptive authorizations 

Sponsor Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) 

Status: Introduced  

This bill would expand prescriptive authority of Advance Practice Registered Nurses and physician assistants from a five-day emergency supply to a thirty-day supply of prescription medication, expand the type of medication to include stimulants and remove the limitations that authority only applies to patients 18 years or older.   

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. 

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