Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1292: Health; exempt from certificate of need requirements certain nursing homes for war veterans
Last action February 24, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported
A Georgia House bill would exempt nursing homes for war veterans run by or on behalf of the Department of Veterans Service from the state's certificate of need approval process for health facilities.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia currently requires most new health care facilities, including nursing homes, to get a certificate of need (a state approval showing there is enough demand and no unnecessary duplication of services) before they can open or expand. This bill adds a new exemption to that law (O.C.G.A. § 31-6-47). Under the bill, an intermediate care facility or skilled nursing facility that provides nursing care to war veterans and is owned by, or operated on behalf of, the Department of Veterans Service would not need a certificate of need. It also specifies that beds in these veterans' homes would not count toward the state's overall inventory used to decide whether new nursing home beds or services are needed elsewhere in Georgia.
What the bill does
- Adds a new exemption (paragraph 36) to Georgia's certificate of need law so veterans' nursing homes tied to the Department of Veterans Service skip the usual approval process.
- Applies specifically to intermediate care facilities or skilled nursing facilities that serve war veterans and are owned by or operated on behalf of the Department of Veterans Service.
- Excludes the beds in these veterans' facilities from the state's bed inventory count, meaning they won't be used to judge whether other providers can add beds.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new exemption.
Who it affects
War veterans seeking nursing or skilled care, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, which owns or oversees these facilities, and other nursing home and health facility operators whose certificate of need applications are evaluated against the state's bed inventory.
Why it matters
Certificate of need review can slow down or block new nursing home beds by requiring proof of need. Exempting veterans' nursing homes from this process could let the Department of Veterans Service open or expand facilities for war veterans more quickly, without affecting other providers' bed counts.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-6-47(a) by adding paragraph (36), exempting nursing care facilities for war veterans owned by or operated on behalf of the Department of Veterans Service from certificate of need requirements.
- Section 1 also states that beds in these exempt veterans' facilities are not counted in the state's inventory used to determine need for additional nursing home providers or services.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard clause with no substantive effect beyond clearing inconsistencies.
From the bill
“An intermediate care facility or skilled nursing facility that provides nursing care and related services to war veterans and is owned by, or operated on behalf of, the Department of Veterans Service.”
“The number of beds used by any such home or facility shall not be counted as part of the department's inventory for the purpose of determining need for additional providers or services.”
Discussed in meetings (5)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Health Committee, February 23, 2026
From 0:43:55 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1292 would exempt skilled nursing homes serving veterans from the state's certificate-of-need approval requirement, with the goal of encouraging private investment and public-private partnerships. The sponsor said Georgia has two state-run veterans nursing homes and cited testimony suggesting a need for six more, with some estimates calling for eight more. The sponsor also described similar legislation in Florida but said it was unclear whether that change caused a new home to be built. No substantive questions were asked. The committee approved the bill by voice vote.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:58:48 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1292 would remove certificate-of-need requirements for veterans retirement communities, allowing private providers to enter that market. The sponsor said Georgia had two veterans facilities and enough veterans to support at least six more. The sponsor cited similar Florida legislation and said Florida had two privately owned veterans homes and another under construction. No questions or decision followed.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
- Josh Bonner (R, HD-73)
- Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
- Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)
- Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
- Al Williams (D, HD-168)
Topics
- veterans nursing homes
- certificate of need
- health care regulation
- Department of Veterans Service