HB209: HB209 Health; designate emergency medical services, including ambulance service, as an essential service

Georgia law currently does not explicitly declare emergency medical services (EMS), including ambulance service, to be an essential service. This bill would add a new section to the state's EMS law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 11 of Title 31) declaring that EMS and ambulance service, no matter who provides them, whether a public agency, a private nonprofit, or a private for-profit company, are essential services in Georgia. The bill is careful to limit what this designation means. It states that the new label does not change how EMS is currently organized through local coordinating entities within territorial zones and health districts, and it does not give any state agency or local government new authority, oversight, or regulatory power over EMS providers. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 31-11-13) declaring emergency medical services, including ambulance service, to be essential services in Georgia.
• Applies the essential service label regardless of whether the EMS provider is a public agency, a private nonprofit, or a private for-profit company.
• Specifies that the designation does not change how EMS is currently delivered through local coordinating entities in territorial zones and health districts.
• States that the bill does not grant any state agency or local government new or additional authority, oversight, or regulatory power over EMS.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new designation.

Emergency medical services and ambulance providers across Georgia, including public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies, as well as the local coordinating entities, territorial zones, and health districts that currently organize EMS delivery in the state.

Labeling EMS as essential could carry weight in future policy, funding, or emergency planning discussions, but the bill itself is narrow: it explicitly avoids changing who regulates EMS or how local systems already operate, so day-to-day ambulance service and oversight would stay the same for now.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 31-11-13 declaring EMS and ambulance service, provided by public, nonprofit, or for-profit entities, to be essential services in Georgia.
• Section 1 also clarifies that this designation does not revise or affect how services are provided through local coordinating entities within territorial zones and health districts.
• Section 1 further clarifies that the section does not grant any state agency or local government new or additional authority, oversight, or regulatory power.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2025-02-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-03House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-30House Hopper (House)

• Ruwa Romman (D, HD-097)Primary sponsor
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)

• emergency medical services
• ambulance service
• healthcare policy
• public safety