HB 965: Health; copies of certain patient records to parents or legal guardians of unemancipated minors; provide

Under current Georgia law, health providers control access to patient records, and it is not always clear that parents automatically get full access to a minor child's medical records, especially through online patient portals. This bill amends Georgia's health records law (O.C.G.A. § 31-33-2) to require providers to furnish a complete, current copy of a minor patient's records to a parent or legal guardian upon written request. The bill also requires providers that use online patient portals to give parents or guardians access to their minor's records in that portal, without requiring the minor's authorization first, for care the parent already consented to. Providers can refuse only if federal or state privacy law requires it, a court order has removed the parent's access rights, or the parent's rights have been terminated. The bill does not include a stated effective date beyond standard practice, so it would take effect once signed into law.

• Requires health providers to give parents or legal guardians a complete, current copy of an unemancipated minor's medical records upon written request.
• Requires providers using online patient portals to give parents or legal guardians direct access to their minor child's health records within that portal.
• Bars providers from requiring a minor's authorization before a parent or guardian can view portal records for care the parent already consented to.
• Limits when a provider can refuse to share records: only if federal or state privacy law requires refusal, a court order has removed that parent's access, or parental rights have been terminated.
• Defines 'patient portal' as an internet-accessible, secure application or similar technology used to maintain patient records.

Parents and legal guardians of unemancipated minors, unemancipated minors whose medical records are involved, and health care providers and hospitals in Georgia that maintain patient records and operate online patient portals.

Parents seeking their minor child's medical information, including through hospital or clinic online portals, would gain a clearer legal right to that access. Providers would face new compliance obligations and limited grounds for withholding records, which could affect how minors' privacy is handled in specific care situations.

• Section 1 adds a new subsection (f) to O.C.G.A. § 31-33-2 requiring providers to furnish complete, current copies of an unemancipated minor's records to a parent or guardian upon written request.
• Section 1 defines 'patient portal' as an internet-accessible, secure application or similar technology used by providers to maintain records.
• Section 1 requires providers using a patient portal to ensure parents or guardians have direct access to their minor's health records in that portal.
• Section 1 prohibits providers from requiring a minor's authorization before a parent accesses portal records for care the parent already consented to.
• Section 1 lists three exceptions allowing a provider to refuse compliance: conflicting federal or state privacy law, a court order removing the parent's access rights, or termination of parental rights.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-16House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-15House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-14House Hopper (House)

• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)Primary sponsor
• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
• Bill Fincher (R, HD-023)
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)

• health records
• parental rights
• patient privacy
• minors' medical care
• patient portals