SB 440 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Department of Public Health; provisions relative to duties or functions; modernize and update

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 16, 19, 31, 48, and 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, domestic relations, health, revenue and taxation, and social services, respectively, so as to modernize and update provisions relative to duties or functions of the Department of Public Health; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 60 0354S/hss → LC 60 0375S/hrcs · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reorganized from a Public and Community Health substitute to a Rules Committee substitute, likely to streamline legislative process. The scope was expanded to include new requirements for health insurers regarding standardized credentialing applications and a new mental health parity compliance review panel. Technical updates were made to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) section to clarify administrative accountability and remove specific operational testing deadlines.

Scope change

The bill now applies to health insurers and mental health providers in addition to the original focus on public health and prescription drug monitoring.

TECHNICAL

The committee offering the substitute changed from the House Committee on Public and Community Health to the House Committee on Rules.

REQUIREMENT

New provisions require health insurers to implement a standardized credentialing application and approve applications within a specific timeframe.

A new parity compliance review panel was established for mental health, with duties to evaluate complaints and recommend punitive actions for violations.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'administratively accountable' was clarified to mean a warning or fine that is not considered a formal disciplinary action against a licensee.

TIMELINE

Specific deadlines for the Department of Public Health to randomly test the PDMP for operational status and certify it to governing boards were removed.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House Apr 2, 2026

How they voted

48–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 51

Feb 20, 2026

D Democratic20

17 Yea 3

85% Yea

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

House Withdrawn, Recommitted

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors