Sen. Ben Watson

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 46 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certification of private review agents, so as to provide that certain decisions with regard to the provision of insurance coverage for healthcare services shall not be based solely on artificial intelligence systems, artificial intelligence, or other software tools; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to authorize public schools and postsecondary educational institutions to consider antisemitism in the same manner as discrimination based on religion; to require the Department of Education to establish a state-wide K-12 Title VI Coordinator; to authorize withholding of funds for noncompliance; to provide for notice and appeal procedures; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 8 and 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing and fire protection and safety, respectively, so as to improve government efficiency by updating provisions of the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for dry needling to be performed by certain licensed professionals; to provide for definitions; to restrict certain representations and advertisements related to the performance of dry needling; to provide for education and training requirements for occupational therapists to perform dry needling; to provide for disciplinary action; to provide for training requirements for acupuncturists; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to authorize certain local governing authorities to provide temporary tax relief from the taxes levied for the harvest or sale of standing timber in certain disaster areas;to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title and legislative findings and intent; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 18 of Title 45, Chapter 4 of Title 49, and Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the employees' insurance and benefits plans, public assistance, and general provisions relative to state government, respectively, so as to prohibit coverage of expenses for gender-affirming care under the state health benefit plan or with any state funds; to provide for definitions; to provide for limited exceptions; to prohibit state healthcare facilities and healthcare providers employed by the state from providing gender-affirming care; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Senate study committee to investigate pharmacy benefits managers and their impact on prescription drug costs and consumer access. The committee will examine practices such as steering patients to affiliated pharmacies, drug price markups, and reimbursement manipulation that critics say harm patients and independent pharmacies. The committee consists of Senate committee chairs and appointed experts, and it will hold meetings, receive funding for its work, and submit a report with findings and potential legislative recommendations before being abolished on December 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally recognizes and commends Mrs. Angela W. Touhy for her long and distinguished service to the Georgia State Senate. It directly affects Mrs. Touhy by officially honoring her career, which includes over 35 years of public service in state administration and legislative support roles. The resolution highlights her contributions to the Senate Appropriations Committee and her continued work assisting the committee after retirement in 2022. The Senate authorized the Secretary to provide a copy of this resolution to Mrs. Touhy as a formal acknowledgment of her service.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 20E of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act," so as to provide for insurance coverage for certain out-of-network ambulance transportation service; to provide for the minimum allowable reimbursement rate for such service; to provide for maximum amounts on copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for such service; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.