State Legislature Begins Final 6 Days of Session 

State Legislature Update

March 24, 2025

Tomorrow the Georgia General Assembly will convene for Day 35 and begin its final six days of the 2025 session; with adjournment “sine die” on Friday, April 4. Last week was “cross-over” day, which is the last day a bill can be approved by one chamber in order for it to be considered in the other chamber. 

As usual, we are watching the bills at the Capitol which impact pediatrics—both our members’ and their practices and the children and adolescents you care for.  The Chapter Legislative committee will meet regularly during the session to monitor these bills, and our lobbyists will be in the building every day.  The Chapter legislative committee is chaired by Melinda Willingham, MD and is open to any Chapter member. 

Here are the Chapter’s Legislative priorities for the 2025 session: 

1. Protect current Georgia laws on child immunizations, particularly current law re requirement for school attendance. 
2. Support injury prevention legislation to protect children and youth, especially on firearm safety. 
3. Support the Georgia Medicaid program which is a vital part of Georgia’s healthcare infrastructure and serves nearly 2 million children, from newborns to 18 years old. 
4. Protect the Medical home and oppose unwise attempts at scope of practice expansions by non-physicians. 
5. Improve the availability and accessibility of mental health services for children/youth. 
6. Support legislation on civil liability reform as advanced by Governor Kemp. 

Here are the issues and bills we’re watching closely now & the Chapter position on them: 

• Gun Safety:  Rep. Michelle Au and Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver have introduced several position bills on gun safety (e.g. requiring safe storage) but none have been granted a hearing this far. Sadly, none of these bills did not cross-over, nor even receive a hearing.  Only HB 79, which would provide a tax credit to owners who buy safe storage devices, did pass the House, and is now in the Senate. 
• Medicaid rate increase:  Together with our colleagues in the PCP Coalition (FM, IM, OB/Gyn and DO’s) we are advocating for a Medicaid rate increase in the 99213 and 99214 to 100% of 2024 Medicare.  That would be about an 11% increase.  HB 68 is the FY2026 budget bill.  The House allocated about $7.5M to this item, one half of what is needed.  We will advocate to the Senate that they add an equal amount. The budget is now in the Senate and should be out by next week. 
• Tort Reform: Gov. Brian Kemp has made this his #1 issue this session and we are very supportive of these efforts.  SB 68 passed the Senate and last week passed the House, although some amendments were added. This means it must return to the Senate for final approval. 
• Protecting State Immunization laws:  No anti-vax bills have been introduced, thankfully. However two pro-immunization House bills did not move either—which was disappointing.  
• Other:  Two bills have drawn our attention recently: 
• A) Medical cannabis: HB 227 seeks to rename “low THC oil” to “medical cannabis” but also strikes the provision in the current law that says that low THC oil can only be prescribed for children with autism over the age of 18.  We oppose this bill as unduly expansive and unwise. SB 220 is a similar bill, but it retains the current parts of the law that prohibit its use on minors for these conditions. 
• B) Treatment for Gender Dysphoria (GD): SB 30 would prohibit physicians from using certain therapies in the treatment of GD. Passed the Senate and was heard in the House Public & Community Health committee last week, though no vote was taken. 

The Chapter’s Legislative Committee meets regularly during the session.  To join, contact Joanna Caceres-Aponte at the Chapter office jcaceres-aponte@gaaap.org. If members have any policy or other questions, please contact the Chapter executive director, Rick Ward at rward@gaaap.org.