HB 1056: Education; replace term auto-injectable epinephrine with epinephrine and consolidate provisions relating to epinephrine and schools

Georgia law currently uses the term 'auto-injectable epinephrine' to describe emergency allergy medication that schools and students can carry, store, and administer. This term is tied to a specific delivery device, but newer forms of epinephrine, like nasal sprays, do not fit that description. This bill replaces 'auto-injectable epinephrine' with the broader term 'epinephrine' throughout the relevant Georgia Code sections covering schools, pharmacists, and authorized entities. The bill repeals the old student self-administration law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-776) and replaces it with a new, consolidated version covering student self-administration, school storage, staff training, stocking supplies, liability protections, and vendor arrangements. It also repeals two related sections (20-2-776.1 and 20-2-776.2) since their content is folded into the new section, and updates the pharmacist prescribing law (O.C.G.A. § 26-4-116.1) and the authorized entities law (O.C.G.A. § 31-1-15) to match. The State Board of Education must adopt implementing regulations by July 1, 2026.

• Repeals the existing student self-administration law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-776) and replaces it with a consolidated version covering self-administration, school storage, staff response, and stocking supplies.
• Replaces the term 'auto-injectable epinephrine' with 'epinephrine' throughout the school, pharmacy, and authorized entity statutes so the law covers any FDA-approved epinephrine delivery method, not just injectors.
• Repeals two now-redundant Code sections (20-2-776.1 on staff administration and 20-2-776.2 on stock supplies) since their substance is merged into the new consolidated section.
• Updates the pharmacist prescribing law (O.C.G.A. § 26-4-116.1) to reference the new consolidated school section and to use the broader 'epinephrine' term.
• Revises the definition of epinephrine in the authorized entities law (O.C.G.A. § 31-1-15) to describe a premeasured dose delivery system rather than an 'auto-injectable' device.
• Requires the State Board of Education, working with the Department of Public Health, to adopt implementing regulations by July 1, 2026.

Public and private school students with severe allergies, their parents and guardians, school nurses and staff who store or administer epinephrine, licensed practitioners who write prescriptions, pharmacists who fill them, and school governing bodies that must adopt related policies.

By broadening the legal term from 'auto-injectable epinephrine' to just 'epinephrine,' schools and staff could legally stock, prescribe, and administer newer epinephrine products like nasal sprays, not just injector devices, potentially giving schools more options for treating severe allergic reactions.

• Section 1 repeals and replaces O.C.G.A. § 20-2-776, consolidating rules for student self-administration, school storage, staff training, stocking, liability immunity, and vendor arrangements into one section.
• Section 1 requires parental consent and a licensed practitioner's written statement, renewed at least annually, before a student can carry and self-administer epinephrine.
• Section 1 grants civil liability immunity to school employees and licensed practitioners who administer epinephrine in good faith, except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct.
• Section 1 sets a July 1, 2026 deadline for the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to adopt implementing regulations.
• Sections 2 and 3 repeal Code Sections 20-2-776.1 and 20-2-776.2, which previously covered staff administration and stock supplies separately.
• Section 4 revises O.C.G.A. § 26-4-116.1 to remove 'auto-injectable' from prescribing authority language and update its cross-reference to the new consolidated section.
• Section 5 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-1-15 to replace 'auto-injectable epinephrine' with 'epinephrine' and rewrites the definition to focus on a premeasured dose delivery system approved by the FDA.

1. 2026-03-06House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-02-02House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-29House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-01-28House Hopper (House)

• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)Primary sponsor
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Lynn Smith (R, HD-070)

• school health policy
• epinephrine and allergies
• student medication
• school liability
• public health law