Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 334: Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act; enact
Last action July 1, 2026 · Effective Date
Georgia House Bill 334 would require child care centers to give parents yearly information on RSV and require the Department of Community Health to review Medicaid coverage for sickle cell disease treatments every year.
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 Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This bill addresses two separate health issues in Georgia law. First, it amends the state's early care and learning code (O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-18) so that every child care learning center and family child care learning home must give parents or guardians educational information about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and prevention recommendations by September 1 each year, based on guidance from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics. Second, it adds a new section to Georgia's public assistance code (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.5) requiring the Department of Community Health to review, every year, all medications, treatments, and services covered by Medicaid for people diagnosed with sickle cell disease. The department must seek public input, especially from people or groups experienced with sickle cell disease treatment, and must submit a report to legislative leaders by January 15 each year and post it on its website.
What the bill does
- Requires child care learning centers and family child care learning homes to give parents yearly written information on RSV and prevention by September 1.
- Bases the RSV information on guidelines from professional medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Creates a new requirement for the Department of Community Health to review Medicaid-covered medications, treatments, and services for sickle cell disease patients every year.
- Requires the department to gather public input on the annual review, with special focus on people experienced in sickle cell disease treatment.
- Requires an annual report to the General Assembly's presiding officers and relevant committees by January 15, plus public posting of the report online.
Who it affects
Parents and guardians of children enrolled in Georgia child care centers and family child care homes, child care providers who must distribute the RSV information, Medicaid recipients diagnosed with sickle cell disease, and the Department of Community Health, which must conduct the reviews and submit reports.
Why it matters
Families using licensed child care would get yearly RSV prevention information they may not currently receive. Medicaid patients with sickle cell disease could see more attention paid to whether their treatment options are adequate, since the state would have to formally review coverage and report findings each year.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds subsection (a.1) to O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-18, requiring child care providers to give RSV information to parents by September 1 annually.
- Section 2 creates O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.5, requiring an annual Department of Community Health review of Medicaid coverage for sickle cell disease medications, treatments, and services.
- Section 2(b) requires the department to solicit public input during the review, emphasizing input from those with sickle cell disease treatment experience.
- Section 2(c) requires a report to the General Assembly's presiding officers and standing committees by January 15 each year, and requires the report be published on the department's website.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“Each child care learning center and family child care learning home shall, by September 1 of each year, provide to the parent or guardian of each child enrolled therein educational information on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and recommendations on prevention”
“The department shall conduct an annual review of all medications, forms of treatment, and services that are eligible for coverage under the Medicaid program for Medicaid recipients with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease.”
Discussed in meetings (14)
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 Public and Community Health Committee, February 17, 2026
From 1:20:14 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 334 would require Georgia Medicaid to review sickle cell medications, treatments and services annually, assess whether coverage meets patients’ needs, and consider additions using expert input and existing Medicaid data. The sponsor said more than 10,000 Georgians were affected, about 60% in metro Atlanta, and roughly 17 states had passed similar legislation. One member said sickle cell had historically received inadequate research and treatment attention, and that newer gene therapies warranted regular review. That member emphasized the bill would not require payment for treatments. Other members described personal experiences with sickle cell and urged better education for healthcare workers about patients’ pain. Asked about Department of Community Health input, the sponsor recalled no negative feedback from earlier communications but could not identify the year and acknowledged no recent conversation. Another member sought updated department input and suggested policy changes might be possible without legislation. A member supporting passage said the department already appeared to conduct annual drug reviews, while another stressed lawmakers’ role in setting requirements. The chair held the bill until the following week to review current practices and possible changes with the department. The sponsor agreed. No vote was taken.
House Public and Community Health Committee, February 24, 2026
From 1:47:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would require the Department of Community Health to review sickle cell medications and treatments annually to assess whether they help patients. The sponsor said about 14,000 Georgians have sickle cell disease, cases occur in all but two counties, and about 17 states have passed similar legislation. A department witness said the agency had no concerns with the bill and already conducts related reporting and quarterly drug reviews. The witness described existing gene-therapy coverage through Medicaid and the State Health Benefit Plan, saying two Medicaid patients were receiving therapy and two were undergoing screening. The witness also described a $1 million patient-centered care pilot serving up to 300 Medicaid members. A committee member asked why the bill limits reviews to services eligible for coverage. The department witness said the wording appeared to account for approval and coverage requirements, while offering to examine it further. The witness also said costly gene therapy is budgeted based on anticipated patient numbers. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:59:43 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1696
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 334 would require the Department of Community Health to review sickle cell medications and treatments annually to assess whether they meet patients' needs. The sponsor estimated that 14,000 to 15,000 Georgians were affected and described the disease's effects on red blood cells and life expectancy. The sponsor said the department supported the effort. Asked whether the Sickle Cell Foundation supported the bill, the sponsor said the foundation had advocated for it. No decision was recorded.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:18:25 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1696
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 334 on Tuesday’s calendar under modified rules. The motion was seconded, no opposition was heard, and there was no discussion of the bill’s contents.
House floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26, PM)
From 6:02:02 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Postponed)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair announced that HB 334 would be postponed to the next legislative day. There was no substantive discussion.
House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, PM, part 2)
From 2:48:25 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Postponed)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair announced that HB 334 would be postponed until the next legislative day, Friday. No substantive discussion occurred.
House floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, PM, part 1)
From 2:52:54 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2152
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would require the Department of Community Health to review sickle cell medications and treatments annually for Medicaid recipients, with input from patients, doctors and experts. The sponsor said about 15,000 Georgians have the disease and that the department supported the measure. One member recognized a former legislator's advocacy, and another described a grandchild's death from complications. A third member emphasized that sickle cell affects people of several ancestries. Asked whether annual review would help adopt new treatments more quickly, the sponsor said it would keep the state from standing still as treatments evolve, noting that medications were introduced in 2023. The sponsor also described service on a board supporting affected families. The House passed the bill 159-7.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 25, 2026
From 1:26:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute requiring childcare learning centers and family childcare centers to inform parents when a child has respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The sponsor said notification would help parents protect their children and described RSV as a leading cause of infant hospitalization. The sponsor said the bill would also require the Department of Community Health to review sickle cell medications and treatments annually as options evolve. The sponsor estimated that about 15,000 Georgians have sickle cell disease, said research showed someone affected in every county, and reported department support. One member recognized prior study committee work, and another supported both provisions while describing a family experience with infant hospitalization. The committee approved the substitute unanimously.
Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026
From 0:43:02 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 334 would provide parents with educational information about respiratory syncytial virus and require the Department of Community Health to review sickle cell medications and treatments annually. No substantive questions followed. It was selected on behalf of an absent member, and the committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.
Senate floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, part 1)
From 4:27:53 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Taken from Table)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 334 addressed sickle cell disease and respiratory syncytial virus, describing both as serious health concerns. The clerk's reading of the substitute included providing RSV information to parents through childcare providers and requiring an annual Department of Community Health review of sickle cell medications and treatments for Medicaid recipients. The sponsor said a dedicated sickle cell review panel would give the condition focused attention, that the department supported the measure and that it could be implemented without additional departmental cost. Questions largely became tributes to the sponsor's work on sickle cell disease and service in the Senate. No opposition was offered. The Senate adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 49 to 0.
House floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, PM, part 2)
From 3:08:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said the Senate's replacement version of HB 334 added a requirement for childcare facilities to provide information about respiratory syncytial virus so parents could better protect children. The presenter said the bill also retained an annual Department of Community Health review of sickle cell medications and treatments. No questions were asked. The House agreed to the Senate's replacement version, 149 to 18.
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 401
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
Show full history (20 actions)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Postponed (House)
- House Postponed (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Omari Crawford (D, HD-89)
- Mary Margaret Oliver (D, HD-84)
- Michelle Au (D, HD-50)
- Inga Willis (D, HD-55)
- Anne Allen Westbrook (D, HD-163)
- Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
Votes
- House voteMarch 6, 2026
159 yea, 7 nay (2 not voting, 9 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 excused)
- Senate voteApril 2, 2026
49 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 1 excused)
- House voteApril 2, 2026
149 yea, 18 nay (6 not voting, 3 excused)
Topics
- sickle cell disease
- Medicaid coverage
- child care regulations
- RSV prevention
- public health