HB 326 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

State Health Benefit Plan Nonopioid Coverage Parity Act; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state employees' health insurance and benefit plans, so as to mandate that the state health benefit plan provide coverage for qualifying nonopioid pain management drugs that is in parity with its coverage for opioid pain management drugs; to provide for definitions; to provide for parity with regard to annual deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, exclusions, reductions, other limitations, or utilization review; to provide for legislative construction; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2026

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What changed between versions

LC 46 1006/a → LC 46 1473S/hs · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended to include the post-employment health benefit fund alongside the active state health plan, ensuring nonopioid pain drugs are covered with the same benefits as opioids for both groups. The effective date was pushed back from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, likely to allow time for plan adjustments. The bill's title was updated to reflect it is a substitute version.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly applies to the post-employment health benefit fund in addition to the active state health benefit plan.

SCOPE

Expanded the bill's applicability to include the post-employment health benefit fund, ensuring retired state employees receive the same nonopioid pain drug coverage parity as active employees.

TIMELINE

Delayed the effective date of the new coverage requirements from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill's short title and committee attribution to reflect that this is a substitute version offered by the Health Committee.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors