---
title: HB 1150. Professions and businesses; expand certain advanced practice registered nurse and physician assistant prescriptive authorizations
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1150
cite_as: HB 1150, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1150
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1150.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1150/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72711
date: 2026-02-04
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1149.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1151.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1150.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1150
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-02
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Alan Powell
- Jan Jones
- Angie O'Steen
- Sandy Donatucci
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1150/2025
upstream_id: 2104416
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- nurse practitioners
- physician assistants
- prescription drugs
- stimulant medications
- healthcare regulation
---
# HB 1150. Professions and businesses; expand certain advanced practice registered nurse and physician assistant prescriptive authorizations
## Text
House Bill 1150
By: Representatives Powell of the 33rd, Jones of the 47th, O’Steen of the 169th, and Donatucci
of the 105th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
physicians, assistants, and others, so as to expand certain advanced practice registered nurse
and physician assistant prescriptive authorizations; to provide for a definition; to provide for
certain limitations; to remove certain prohibitions on writing prescriptions for minors; to
provide for certain prescriptive authorization to order stimulants; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians,
assistants, and others, is amended in Code Section 43-34-25, relating to delegation of certain
medical acts to advanced practice registered nurse, construction and limitations of such
delegation, definitions, conditions of nurse protocol, and issuance of prescription drug orders,
by revising paragraph (3) of and adding a new paragraph to subsection (a), by revising
subsection (d.1), by revising paragraph (10) of subsection (g), by revising subsection (k), and
by adding a new subsection to read as follows:
"(3) 'Controlled substance' means any controlled substance as defined in Code Section
16-13-21 but shall not include any Schedule I controlled substance included in Code
Section 16-13-25 or any Schedule II controlled substance included in Code Section
16-13-26, except as authorized pursuant to subsection (d.1) subsections (d.1) and (d.2)
of this Code section."
"(16) 'Stimulant' means any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that increases
heart rate, breathing, or brain function as provided in paragraph (3) of Code
Section 16-13-26."
"(d.1) An advanced practice registered nurse who has at least one year of post-licensure
clinical experience and is in good standing with the board may be authorized under a nurse
protocol agreement to issue prescription drug orders in emergency situations for
hydrocodone, oxycodone, or compounds thereof in emergency situations pursuant to the
following requirements:
(1) The authorization is specifically included in the nurse protocol agreement;
(2) The advanced practice registered nurse has directly evaluated the patient;
(3) The prescription drug order is limited to an initial prescription, not to exceed a
five-day supply;
(4) The prescription drug order is for an individual 18 years of age or older; and
(5) The advanced practice registered nurse completes one hour of continuing education
biennially in the appropriate ordering and use of hydrocodone, oxycodone, and
compounds thereof."
"(d.2) An advanced practice registered nurse who has at least one year of post-licensure
clinical experience and is in good standing with the board may be authorized under a nurse
protocol agreement to issue prescription drug orders for stimulants pursuant to the
following requirements:
(1) The authorization is specifically included in the nurse protocol agreement;
(2) The advanced practice registered nurse has directly evaluated the patient; and
(3) The advanced practice registered nurse completes one hour of continuing education
biennially in the appropriate ordering and use of stimulants."
"(10) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d.1) subsections (d.1) and (d.2) of
this Code section, in any emergency medical services system operated by, or on behalf
of, any county, municipality, or hospital authority with a full-time physician medical
director who does not order drugs, except that he or she may order up to a 14 day supply
of drugs as necessary in an emergency situation, excluding benzodiazepines and all
Schedule II controlled substances except hydrocodone, oxycodone, or compounds
thereof; provided, however, that an advanced practice registered nurse shall not order
radiographic imaging, diagnostic studies, or medical devices pursuant to this paragraph;
and provided, further, that a patient shall be referred to a physician, a dentist, or a
federally qualified health center."
"(k) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to authorize an advanced practice
registered nurse to issue a prescription drug order for a Schedule I or II controlled
substance, except as otherwise authorized pursuant to subsection (d.1) subsections (d.1)
and (d.2) of this Code section, or authorize refills of any drug for more than 12 months
from the date of the original order except in the case of oral contraceptives, hormone
replacement therapy, or prenatal vitamins which may be refilled for a period of 24 months."
SECTION 2.
Said chapter is further amended by revising paragraphs (1) and (10) of subsection (e.1) of
Code Section 43-34-103, relating to delegation of authority to physician assistants, as
follows:
"(e.1)(1)(A) In addition to and without limiting the authority granted by Code Section
43-34-23, a physician may delegate to a physician assistant, in accordance with a job
description, the authority to issue a prescription drug order or orders for any device as
defined in Code Section 26-4-5 or to issue any dangerous drug as defined in Code
Section 16-13-71, stimulants, and in emergency situations, hydrocodone, oxycodone,
or compounds thereof in accordance with subparagraph (B) subparagraphs (B) and (C)
of this paragraph, or any Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance as defined in Code
Section 16-13-21 on a prescription drug order or prescription device order form as
specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection. Delegation of such authority shall be
contained in the job description required by this Code section. The delegating
physician shall remain responsible for the medical acts of the physician assistant
performing such delegated acts and shall adequately supervise the physician assistant.
If an existing job description for a physician assistant does not contain such authority
to order a prescription drug or device order as provided by this subsection, that
physician assistant may not issue any such prescription drug or device order until a new
job description delegating such authority is submitted to and approved by the board.
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to authorize the written prescription
drug order of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, except as authorized pursuant to
subparagraph (B) subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this paragraph.
(B) A physician may delegate to a physician assistant who has at least one year of
post-licensure clinical experience and is in good standing with the board the authority
to issue prescription drug orders in emergency situations for hydrocodone, oxycodone,
or compounds thereof in emergency situations pursuant to the following requirements:
(i) The authorization is specifically included in the job description;
(ii) The physician assistant has directly evaluated the patient; and
(iii) The drug order is limited to an initial prescription not to exceed a five-day
supply; and
(iv) The prescription drug order is for an individual 18 years of age or older.
(C) A physician may delegate to a physician assistant who has at least one year of
post-licensure clinical experience and is in good standing with the board the authority
to issue prescription drug orders for stimulants pursuant to the following requirements:
(i) The authorization is specifically included in the job description; and
(ii) The physician assistant has directly evaluated the patient."
"(10)(A) A physician assistant delegated the authority by the primary supervising
physician to issue a prescription drug or device order shall be required to complete a
minimum of three hours of continuing education biennially in practice specific
pharmaceuticals in which the physician assistant has prescriptive order privileges.
(B) A physician assistant delegated the authority by the primary supervising physician
to issue a prescription drug or device order for stimulants, hydrocodone, oxycodone,
or compounds thereof shall be required to complete one additional hour of continuing
education biennially in the appropriate ordering and use of stimulants, hydrocodone,
oxycodone, or compounds thereof."
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would let advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants prescribe stimulant medications and would remove a rule that limited emergency hydrocodone and oxycodone prescriptions to patients 18 and older.
### Plain-language summary
Under current Georgia law, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) can only prescribe certain controlled substances, like hydrocodone and oxycodone, in emergency situations, and only to patients who are at least 18 years old. This bill removes that age restriction, meaning minors could also receive these emergency prescriptions from APRNs and PAs under a nurse protocol agreement or physician-approved job description.
The bill also creates a new category of prescriptive authority for stimulant medications, defined as substances that increase heart rate, breathing, or brain function. APRNs and PAs with at least one year of post-licensure clinical experience and good standing with their licensing board could be authorized to prescribe stimulants after directly evaluating a patient, provided they complete one hour of continuing education on stimulant use every two years. The bill amends O.C.G.A. § 43-34-25 for nurses and § 43-34-103 for physician assistants, and repeals conflicting laws.
### What it does
- Adds a legal definition of 'stimulant' as a substance that increases heart rate, breathing, or brain function, tied to Georgia's controlled substances schedule.
- Creates new authority for advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe stimulants under a nurse protocol agreement, after directly evaluating a patient and completing continuing education.
- Creates parallel authority for physician assistants to prescribe stimulants when a supervising physician delegates that authority in a job description.
- Removes the current rule that limited emergency hydrocodone and oxycodone prescriptions by APRNs and PAs to patients 18 years of age or older.
- Requires APRNs and PAs who prescribe stimulants to complete one hour of continuing education every two years on the proper ordering and use of stimulants.
- Extends an exception for county, municipal, and hospital-authority emergency medical systems to also cover the new stimulant prescribing authority.
### Who it affects
Advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants who prescribe medications under a nurse protocol or physician-delegated job description, the physicians who supervise them, patients (including minors) who may receive hydrocodone or oxycodone prescriptions in emergencies, and patients who may be prescribed stimulant medications.
### Why it matters
Patients under 18 could now receive emergency hydrocodone or oxycodone prescriptions from APRNs and PAs, which is currently barred. Patients needing stimulant medications, often used for conditions like ADHD, could get them from APRNs and PAs directly instead of only from physicians, potentially widening access to care.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-34-25 to add a definition of 'stimulant' referencing Georgia's controlled substances schedule in Code Section 16-13-26.
- Section 1 removes the requirement that emergency hydrocodone or oxycodone prescriptions by APRNs be limited to patients 18 or older.
- Section 1 adds new subsection (d.2) allowing APRNs with at least one year of experience to prescribe stimulants after directly evaluating a patient and completing continuing education.
- Section 1 extends an emergency medical services exception for county, municipal, and hospital authority systems to cover the new stimulant authority alongside existing hydrocodone/oxycodone rules.
- Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-34-103 to let physicians delegate stimulant-prescribing authority to physician assistants with at least one year of experience, contingent on direct patient evaluation.
- Section 2 removes the 18-and-older age limit for physician assistants prescribing hydrocodone or oxycodone in emergency situations.
- Section 2 requires physician assistants who prescribe stimulants, hydrocodone, or oxycodone to complete one additional hour of continuing education biennially on those drugs.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-02)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-04)
- Sponsors: Alan Powell, Jan Jones, Angie O'Steen, Sandy Donatucci
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72711
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1150.md?full=1