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.