Georgia’s 2025 legislative session began on Jan. 13 and is scheduled to adjourn in early April. Recognizing that health policy remains a top priority for lawmakers, HCA Healthcare is pleased to share this legislative preview to keep colleagues informed about key developments that could impact care and access in the communities we serve.
Under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor and Senate President Burt Jones (R), Senate President Pro Tem John F. Kennedy (R-District 18), and House Speaker Jon Burns (R-District 159), and in conjunction with Governor Brian Kemp (R), this session will address a range of issues, including the state budget, healthcare policy, education, artificial intelligence, hurricane relief, litigation reform, and prison reform.
Below is an overview of significant policy proposals lawmakers will likely consider during the 2025 session:
Medicaid Expansion
For more than a decade, Georgia legislators have debated whether to expand the state’s Medicaid program to cover adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. While some policymakers have pushed for full expansion, others have supported alternative approaches, such as Gov. Kemp’s Pathways to Coverage program. This waiver program is expected to remain in place until his term concludes in 2026.
Gov. Kemp has already moved forward in refining Pathways to Coverage, which offers healthcare coverage to residents who meet program requirements and are not otherwise eligible for traditional Medicaid. On Jan. 16, the governor announced a new provision that extends Medicaid coverage to parents and legal guardians with incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level who have children aged 0-6. Gov. Kemp also announced an additional $2.98 million in funding to expand the Department of Public Health’s Perinatal Home Visit Pilot Program and an additional $778,000 to expand cardiovascular and high-risk care services at designated perinatal centers in the state.
Other potential changes could include broadening the criteria for approved work activities required for eligibility. Some stakeholders have highlighted additional areas for improvement, including the lengthy approval process for disability eligibility, which can delay access to healthcare for individuals facing sudden health challenges.
Although full Medicaid expansion is unlikely this session, ongoing studies and policy discussions may help shape the state’s healthcare landscape in the coming years.
Healthcare Workforce
In a recent press conference, House Speaker Burns shared that one of his priorities this session will be to invest in attracting and keeping more medical professionals. He wants to achieve this by providing more funding and support for medical residency programs, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Litigation Reform
Gov. Kemp has made litigation reform a central focus for the upcoming legislative session, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to address concerns raised by a wide range of stakeholders. In the past few months, the governor has hosted roundtable discussions with representatives from Georgia’s largest employers, healthcare executives, and small-business owners to better understand the challenges posed by the state’s current litigation environment.
Gov. Kemp and many business representatives believe Georgia’s litigation rules disproportionately favor plaintiffs, compelling businesses to either settle unmeritorious lawsuits or risk multimillion-dollar verdicts at trial. Some insurers have become reluctant to offer policies in certain industries and regions of the state, citing the current legal climate as a key barrier.
Proposed reforms may include caps on specific types of damages and procedural changes to allow business and property owners to more easily get claims dismissed before they reach trial. However, the governor has also sought input from plaintiff attorneys, who oppose such changes, arguing they could unnecessarily restrict the rights of injured parties.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Last session, Georgia legislators failed to pass HB 986, which would have outlawed the use of generative AI to interfere with elections and defraud voters. However, they did approve resolutions to create the House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence and the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence, both intended to study AI’s impact in the state. Findings from the Senate panel were released in December, while findings from the House are to be released this month.
The House subcommittee’s preliminary report is similar to the Senate’s, focusing on ethical use, governance, risk management, transparency, human oversight, and education. However, the House also expands more on how AI can be used in education, public safety, and healthcare. Specific recommendations from the House have not yet been released publicly, but recommendations from the Senate that involve or could affect healthcare include:
- Adopting state legislation necessary to support AI regulation without stifling innovation
- Working with local and state law enforcement to identify and support appropriate uses of AI to increase the efficiency of emergency response and management
- Working with appropriate state agencies to identify and support the accessibility of AI-enabled tools to increase efficiency in healthcare and improve healthcare outcomes, particularly in communities with fewer resources
- Keeping in mind mental health care services and examining the ways in which AI could impact mental health
Recommendations from both study groups are likely to be discussed during this year’s session.
Education
Following the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder on September 4, school security has become a high priority for Georgia lawmakers. House Speaker Burns has expressed support for initiatives to expand access to mental health care, increase penalties for terroristic threats, and encourage safe gun storage through incentives.
In addition to school security, lawmakers are likely to revisit several education-related proposals from previous sessions. These could include bills related to school libraries, curriculum, and the role of school counselors.
Mental health care remains a prominent focus for schools and districts, many of which have used federal relief funds since the COVID-19 pandemic to hire additional counselors and social workers. Advocates are expected to lobby for sustained funding and increased support. Some proposals may also include allowing schools to hire chaplains to perform duties similar to school counselors or to serve as volunteers. While proponents point to Texas’s adoption of a similar law as a model, critics have raised concerns about the potential effects of uncredentialed counseling on student well-being.
Other proposals likely to resurface include allowing schools to adopt a Bible-based curriculum. Additionally, lawmakers may revisit legislation aimed at repealing current legal protections for public school librarians regarding materials deemed “harmful to minors.” Another bill under consideration would require local school boards to give parents the option to receive email notifications when their child checks out books or other materials from school media centers.
State Budget
Gov. Kemp has proposed a nearly $38 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, representing a $1.57 billion increase from the previous fiscal year’s proposed budget. The increase is due to the state prioritizing education, healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety while addressing the needs of a growing population.
Some budget highlights include:
Healthcare
- $324 million to fully fund projected Medicaid enrollment and utilization growth
- $36.5 million for high-cost drugs, including newly approved gene therapy treatments for conditions like sickle cell disease
- $22.8 million for 12 months of continuous Medicaid eligibility for children under 19 years
- $174 million to cover employer cost shares for healthcare benefits for state teachers
- $1.5 million to fund 75 new residency slots in primary care medicine
- $39.2 million to annualize provider rate increases for New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP) providers, as well as community behavioral health providers
- $6 million to fund community-based facilities serving children, adolescents, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- $3.8 million to expand maternal health programs, including home visits and access to maternal-fetal medicine in rural areas
Workforce Development
- Funding for workforce housing, rural development grants, and initiatives to meet demands for technical and vocational skills in high-demand sectors
Education
- More than $1 billion in new funding for education, including Pre-K to higher education, to address enrollment growth, classroom improvements, and teacher and staff support
- Introduction of the Promise Scholarships, funded with $141 million, to expand school choice and empower families
Hurricane Helene Relief
Relief for Hurricane Helene victims will be a central focus for Georgia lawmakers this session. The September storm caused $5.5 billion in agricultural and timber losses, damaged over 212,000 homes, and claimed 34 lives. Gov. Kemp plans to propose a state relief package during the beginning of the session, with broad support anticipated from legislators.
Georgia’s $11 billion budget surplus positions the state to provide significant aid, especially alongside already approved federal disaster funding from Congress, which included $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion for farmers.
Prison Reform
On Jan. 7, Gov. Kemp proposed more than $372 million over two years to tackle prison staff shortages, aging prisons, and contraband issues. Specific allocations in the proposal include:
- A 4% salary increase for all correctional officers
- An 8% pay increase for behavioral health counselors
- A 4% pay increase for chaplains, food service and maintenance workers, and those who provide educational services to inmates
- An additional 330 correctional and close security officers to improve the staff-to-inmate ratio
- $40 million for planning and design of a new prison facility
- More money to add 446 private prison beds to the existing contract
- Construction of four 126-bed modular correctional units
- Development and implementation of updated training for correctional officers
Lawmakers will consider this and all other budget proposals during the legislative session.
