Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB659: Health; rural assistance; expand medical education funding and the service cancelable loan program to include optometrists
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical professionals for rural assistance, so as to expand medical education funding and the service cancelable loan program to include optometrists; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Chapters 7 and 34 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities and medical professionals for rural assistance, respectively, so as to permit administration of certain medications to residents of personal care homes and assisted living facilities; to expand medical education funding and the service cancelable loan program to include optometrists; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By inserting between lines 6.
From the introduced text:
To amend Chapters 7 and 34 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities and medical professionals for rural assistance, respectively, so as to permit administration of certain medications to residents of personal care homes and assisted living facilities; to expand medical education funding and the service cancelable loan program to include optometrists; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By inserting between lines 6 and 7 the following: Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, is amended by revising subparagraph (h)(4)(B) of Code Section 31-7-12, relating to personal care homes, licensing and registration, requirements, exemptions, and enforcement, as follows: "(B) Administer insulin, epinephrine, GLP-1, and B12 pursuant to physician direction and protocol;" SECTION 2. Said chapter is further amended by revising subparagraph (g)(7)(B) of Code Section 31-7-12.2, relating to assisted living communities, licensing and regulation, medication aides, certification, and requirements, as follows: "(B) Administer insulin, epinephrine, GLP-1, and B12 pursuant to physician direction and protocol;" Sen Floor Amend 1 AM 60 0028 SECTION 3. By redesignating Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 as Sections 4, 5, …