SB39: SB39 Employees' Insurance and Benefits Plans; expenses for gender-affirming care under the state health benefit plan or with any state funds; prohibit coverage

Although SB 39 was originally filed to address coverage of gender-affirming care under the state health plan, the House Committee on Health substitute shown here replaces that content entirely. The substitute creates a new chapter of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Title 31, Chapter 31) setting up a certification system for "community health workers," people who help connect communities to health services, especially in underserved or culturally specific settings. The bill establishes an 11-member Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health, sets rules for approving training programs, and lays out requirements for individuals to become certified, including background checks, education, and work-experience hours. The committee would be abolished in 2030, handing its duties to the Department of Public Health. The law would only take effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it in a future budget act.

• Creates a new certification system for "community health workers" under a new chapter of Georgia's health code (O.C.G.A. Title 31, Chapter 31).
• Establishes an 11-voting-member Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health, plus two nonvoting department representatives.
• Sets requirements for individuals to become certified, including being 18 or older, holding a high school diploma, passing a criminal background check, and completing training plus 2,000 hours of work experience.
• Requires the Department of Public Health to approve training programs, which must include at least 45 hours of core training, and to post application requirements online.
• Schedules the committee for abolishment on June 30, 2030, with its powers transferring to the Department of Public Health.
• Makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating money for it in a future budget bill.

Community health workers seeking certification, organizations that train them, the Department of Public Health and its new certification committee, hospitals and federally qualified health centers that employ these workers, and the Georgia Crime Information Center, which would process background checks for applicants.

If funded, Georgians who rely on community health workers for outreach, care coordination, and health education would interact with a newly regulated and certified workforce. Employers and training programs would face new state standards, and only certified individuals could use the title "certified community health worker."

• Section 1 adds Chapter 31 to Title 31 of the Georgia Code, defining terms like "community health worker," "certified community health worker," and "core competencies" (O.C.G.A. § 31-31-1).
• O.C.G.A. § 31-31-2 creates the 11-member Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee, describes its makeup (physicians, social workers, employer representatives, community health workers), and sets two-year terms with a two-term limit.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-31-3 gives the committee powers to recommend training and certification standards, review complaints, and discipline certified workers, and requires quarterly meetings under Georgia's open meetings law (Chapter 14 of Title 50).
• O.C.G.A. § 31-31-4 requires training programs to be approved by the committee, including at least 45 hours of core competency training, with approvals valid for up to two years.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-31-5 sets certification requirements for individuals, including background checks through the Georgia Crime Information Center and the FBI, 2,000 hours of employment, and completion of an approved training program.
• Section 2 makes the entire Act effective only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it, tying implementation to a future budget decision.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2025-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2025-02-13House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-12House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-11Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-02-11Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-02-06Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)Primary sponsor
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)

1. FailedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   19 yea, 33 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Adoption Of Amendment #2 By The Senator From The 41st: Senate Vote #39

2. FailedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   19 yea, 33 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Reconsider Amendment #2: Senate Vote #40

3. PassedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   33 yea, 19 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #41

4. PassedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   32 yea, 18 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Immediately Transmit: Senate Vote #42

• community health workers
• public health certification
• Department of Public Health
• health workforce regulation