The 2019 Georgia legislative session is officially behind us, and we have a lot of bills to update you on! Thanks to you, our supporters, we saw progress on a historic number of bills on our legislative priorities. Here’s an update on the bills Georgia Equality worked on this session:
SB 106: Patients First Act (Medicaid Waiver)
This bill would allow the State Department of Community Health to apply for two waivers from the US Department of Health and Human Services. One waiver will allow the Governor to expand Medicaid to individuals and families who make up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. The second waiver will allow the state to develop a system to help people making between 100% – 138% of the Federal Poverty Level to purchase insurance policies. While this is not the full Medicaid expansion we have long advocated for, it is estimated that as many as 16,000 people living with HIV could gain access to Medicaid through this waiver process.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Kemp
SB 221: Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
This bill would allow individuals and companies to refuse to follow nondiscrimination laws and policies if they are in conflict with someone’s religious views.
Status: Stalled in Senate Judiciary committee without a hearing, however, the legislation will remain live and could move in the 2020 legislative session.
HB 19: State Civil Rights Act
This is a statewide Civil Rights Bill which would create nondiscrimination protections in housing, employment, and in public spaces that mirror the federal 1964 Civil Rights Act based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status or national origin.
Status: Stalled in House Judiciary committee without a hearing. We will continue to push for progress on this bill next year.
HB 158: Medicaid/ADAP formulary sync
This bill creates legislation that would require Medicaid to follow the Georgia AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) formulary for HIV medicines. This legislation would remove delays in accessing HIV medication for people living with HIV due to differences in the formularies.
Status: This bill passed the House but ultimately died in the Senate. However, the Department of Community Health, which oversees the state Medicaid program, has pledged to accomplish the same goal through creating rules and regulations.
HB 217: Syringe Service Programs
This bill allows for the legal establishment of hypodermic syringe and needle exchange programs and protects employees and anyone acting as an agent of these programs from being charged with possession of syringes or other injection supplies. This bill allows for increased availability of clean needles to aid in reducing HIV infection.
Status: This bill passed both chambers and is awaiting action by Governor Kemp.
HB 290: Pilot PrEP Programs
This bill establishes a pilot PrEP distribution programs around the state.
Status: This bill passed both chambers and is awaiting action by Governor Kemp.
HB 426: Hate Crimes
This bill is the LGBTQ-inclusive State Hate Crime Statute backed by the Hate Free Georgia coalition.
Status: This bill passed in the House by a vote of 96 to 64 and awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We will be focused on building support for this legislation in the Senate leading up to the 2020 legislative session.
HB 580: Conversion Therapy Ban
This bill, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Wilson, would ban conversion therapy in Georgia. It is backed by the Converse Coalition. https://www.converse-ga.org
Status: The bill had an informational hearing in a special subcommittee of the House Regulated Industries committee. We look forward to working with Rep. Wilson and coalition partners to advance this legislation in 2020.