Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 906: Health; require long-term care facilities to post a link on their websites to the official website of the office of the long-term care ombudsman
Last action February 20, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A Georgia House bill would let personal care homes and assisted living facilities give residents GLP-1 medication and would require long-term care facilities with websites to post a link to the state long-term care ombudsman's office, with fines for violations.
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 Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Currently, staff at personal care homes and assisted living communities in Georgia can administer insulin, epinephrine, and B12 to residents under physician direction, but not GLP-1 medications (a class of drugs used for diabetes and weight management). This bill adds GLP-1 to that list in two sections of Georgia law covering personal care homes and assisted living communities. The bill also changes how long-term care facilities must inform residents about the long-term care ombudsman, an independent program that helps residents resolve complaints. Facilities already must give written notice about the ombudsman to residents and post it in the building. This bill adds a new requirement: any long-term care facility with a website must post a prominent link to the state ombudsman's website, preceded by a specific statement about the program. Facilities that violate this face escalating penalties, though a broken or misdirected link alone will not trigger a fine, and failing to maintain the link cannot lead to license revocation. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.
What the bill does
- Adds GLP-1 medication to the list of drugs that personal care home staff may administer to residents under physician direction (O.C.G.A. § 31-7-12).
- Adds GLP-1 medication to the same allowed list for assisted living community medication aides (O.C.G.A. § 31-7-12.2).
- Requires every long-term care facility that maintains a website to post a prominent link to the state long-term care ombudsman's website, along with a required explanatory statement.
- Creates a graduated penalty system: a warning for a first violation, a $100 fine for a second violation, and a $200 fine for third and later violations within 12 months.
- Exempts facilities from penalty if the only problem is a broken, inoperable, or misdirected link, and bars license or permit revocation for failing to maintain the link.
- Sets the effective date of the entire Act as January 1, 2027.
Who it affects
Residents and staff of Georgia personal care homes and assisted living communities, facility administrators who must update websites and notices, the state long-term care ombudsman program, and the Department of Community Health, which enforces the new penalties.
Why it matters
Residents on GLP-1 medications could receive them without extra arrangements, and residents or families looking for help with complaints would find the ombudsman's contact information more easily online. Facilities face new compliance duties and possible fines, though minor technical link failures would not be punished.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 31-7-12 to add GLP-1 to the medications personal care home staff may administer under physician protocol.
- Section 2 makes the identical addition of GLP-1 for assisted living communities under O.C.G.A. § 31-7-12.2.
- Section 3 restructures O.C.G.A. § 31-8-59 into subsections and adds subsection (b), requiring a website link to the ombudsman program with a specific mandated statement.
- Section 3 also adds subsection (c), setting penalties of a warning, then $100, then $200 for repeated violations within a 12-month period, with exceptions for broken links and no license revocation.
- Section 4 sets the effective date as January 1, 2027.
- Section 5 repeals conflicting laws.
From the bill
“Each individual long-term care facility which maintains a website shall post in a prominent location on such website a link to the official website of the state long-term care ombudsman.”
“the department shall not impose any penalty on a long-term care facility for a violation of subsection (b) of this Code section within a 12 month period if such violation consists solely of a website link that is broken, inoperable, or misdirected”
Discussed in meetings (4)
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 Human Relations & Aging Committee, February 10, 2026
From 0:19:46 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 906 would require long-term care facilities that already have websites to post a link to Georgia’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. The sponsor said contact information must already be posted inside facilities, but families and guardians need online access, especially when visits are restricted or relatives live elsewhere. The sponsor said facilities would not have to create websites and described the cost as minimal or nonexistent. Addressing concerns about penalties, the sponsor said the proposal uses the existing enforcement framework but should not punish facilities for temporarily broken links. The sponsor offered to work with the committee and facility representatives to clarify that intent. The chair confirmed that the requirement would apply only to facilities with websites and identified nursing homes, personal care homes and assisted living communities as covered settings. One committee member supported easier access for families and said adding and updating a website link should not be a technical barrier. No amendment or vote followed.
House Human Relations & Aging Committee, February 20, 2026
From 0:19:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the substitute would require facilities with websites to link to the ombudsman program beginning January 1, 2027. The sponsor described a warning for a first violation, a $100 fine for a second, and $200 thereafter, with no penalties for broken links or license revocation. The sponsor said DCH would oversee compliance. The sponsor also said qualified medication aides could administer GLP-1 medications under physician instructions in personal care homes and assisted living communities. A committee member said skilled nursing facilities did not need that addition because nurses have broader authority. Members supported easier access to information but questioned fine frequency, appeals, public reporting and consistency with existing posting requirements. Those questions were not fully resolved. A Georgia Healthcare Association witness said the penalties sought enforceability without threatening residents over broken links. The state long-term care ombudsman said no facility had been fined for missing posters during the witness's 15 years in that role. Another member said defined penalties could limit DCH discretion. The ombudsman requested wording establishing the program's independence and free, confidential services. The committee adopted the chair's amendment requiring that explanation before the link. The vice chair's amendment removing penalties failed for lack of a second. The committee approved the substitute with the explanatory wording and penalties retained; no vote count was stated.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:33:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 906 would require long-term care facilities with websites to link to the Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. The sponsor said it would also allow qualified medication aides to administer GLP-1 medications under a physician's direction. No questions or decision followed.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Michael Smith (D, HD-41)
Topics
- long-term care
- nursing home oversight
- assisted living
- medication administration
- ombudsman program