​​2023 General Assembly Review

Your tireless advocacy made a difference during the 2023 legislative session! Your emails, calls, testimony and trips to the capitol helped move the needle on our issues. 

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Summary of Legislation

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Some legislation carries over from the previous session, and these summaries describe those bills and resolutions supported and opposed by GCVC.

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Support

• HB 897, the Medical Freedom Act, is a bill that, if passed, would restore the freedom of Georgians to make their own health decisions. This bill is in the Public Health Committee. This is the same bill as the 2023 HB 266. 

• SB 1, passed both chambers. Now on the Governor’s desk to sign into law. SB1 prohibits state and local government agencies from requiring proof of Covid vaccination. The current law that prohibits vaccine passports has an expiration date of June 30, 2023. SB1 removes the expiration date and makes the law permanent. Big win!

• HR 566, is "a resolution creating the House Study Committee on Georgia's COVID-19 Response and Future Pandemic Preparedness; and for other purposes." Resolution will carry over to 2024 session.

• HB 576, stops discrimination for organ transplants based solely on immunization status. Assigned to House Health Committee. Did not get a hearing this session. Bill will carry over to 2024 session.

 

Oppose

• HB 416, would authorize pharmacy techs to administer certain vaccines, including the Covid vaccine. Data shows a pharmacy is the most dangerous place to receive a Covid vaccine. This bill also undermines the doctor/patient relationship. Senate tabled. Rules suspended on Senate Floor. Passed Senate with only 3 nays.

• HB 174, heard in the House Education Curriculum Subcommittee. The bill would require the Georgia DOE to provide information on immunizations to parents of 6th graders. Currently, the bill would allow the DOE to only partially disclose Georgia law on immunizations. An amendment is needed to require the DOE to disclose the full state law, which includes information about medical and religious exemptions to vaccination. The bill will carry over to the 2024 session.

• HB 213, changes age from 6th grade to kindergarten for parents of school children to receive influenza vaccine information. Passed in House Public Health Committee. In the Rules Committee bill was withdrawn and recommitted to House Public Health Committee. Currently, the bill would allow the DOE to only partially disclose Georgia law on immunizations. Either an amendment is needed to require the DOE to disclose the full state law, which includes information about medical and religious exemptions to vaccination OR legislators should VOTE NO on this bill because it is not necessary and would only confuse parents as to which vaccines are actually required for school attendance in Georgia. Information on vaccines that are recommended, but not required for school, is readily available through health care providers and the Department of Health. It is not the job of the DOE to educate parents on vaccines. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to market vaccines in schools. It will carry over to the 2024 session.

• HB520 (Mental Health Parity) passed on the House Floor with only 3 "no" votes. Passed to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The Committee listened to the many concerns, which led to several changes and amendments. The bill will carry over to the 2024 session.