HB 1089: Controlled substances; ivermectin as an over-the-counter medication; provide

Under current Georgia law, ivermectin is classified as a dangerous drug (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71), meaning it generally requires a prescription, except for a narrow exception for topical lotion with 0.5 percent strength or less. This bill adds a second exception. It would allow pharmacists to distribute ivermectin over the counter as long as it is in its original, unopened container, comes in a finished dosage form (such as a pill or tablet ready to use), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and is labeled according to FDA rules. The State Board of Pharmacy would set the specific rules for how pharmacists carry this out. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a specific future effective date beyond standard practice.

• Adds a new exception to Georgia's dangerous drug law (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71) allowing pharmacists to sell ivermectin without a prescription.
• Requires that over-the-counter ivermectin be in its original container and in a finished dosage form, not repackaged or altered by the pharmacist.
• Requires the ivermectin product to be FDA-approved and labeled in compliance with FDA rules before it can be sold this way.
• Directs the State Board of Pharmacy to set the specific rules pharmacists must follow when distributing ivermectin under this new exception.
• Keeps the existing exception for topical lotion containing 0.5 percent or less ivermectin, now labeled as a separate subpart of the same provision.

Georgia pharmacists, who could sell certain ivermectin products without a doctor's prescription; the State Board of Pharmacy, which must write rules for this new category; and Georgia consumers who want to buy FDA-approved ivermectin without first seeing a doctor.

Ivermectin, best known as an antiparasitic drug, drew attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for off-label use. This bill would make certain FDA-approved, prepackaged ivermectin products available directly from pharmacists, changing how easily Georgians can obtain the drug without a doctor's visit.

• Section 1 amends paragraph (12.1) of subsection (c) of O.C.G.A. § 16-13-71 to restructure the ivermectin exception into two parts, labeled (A) and (B).
• Part (A) keeps the current exception for ivermectin used in a topical lotion at 0.5 percent strength or less.
• Part (B) adds a new exception for ivermectin distributed by a pharmacist under State Board of Pharmacy rules, provided it is in its original, FDA-approved, finished dosage container.
• Section 2 repeals any state laws that conflict with these changes.

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

• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)Primary sponsor
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)
• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)

• ivermectin
• pharmacy regulation
• controlled substances
• over-the-counter drugs
• dangerous drugs law