HB 970: Quality Basic Education Act; expand which healthcare professionals may conduct preparticipation physical examinations

In plain language

What the bill does

Who it affects

Why it matters

Key provisions

From the bill

Discussed in meetings (11)

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.

1. House Health Committee, February 9, 2026

   From 0:18:53 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the substitute would require physicals for high school athletes, including cardiovascular screening, performed by physicians, osteopathic physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants. An Emory sports cardiology witness said screening would follow American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines: medical and family histories, vital signs and a physical examination, not mandatory electrocardiograms. The witness said screening cannot prevent every cardiac emergency. In response to a member, the witness said exams could occur in medical offices or at schools with visiting practitioners. The American Heart Association supported the bill. Another member asked to include sports-certified chiropractors. The witness said further research was needed on their role in cardiac examinations, and the chair suggested addressing that issue later without changing the substitute. A member also questioned whether students examined before the law took effect might need another exam that insurance would not cover. The sponsor cited the provision keeping exams performed on or after April 1 valid through the following school year, but agreed to discuss the timing concern further. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no count stated.

2. House Rules Committee, February 11, 2026

   From 0:36:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 970 would put current high-school sports physical policies into law and strengthen them, allowing physicians, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to conduct examinations. The sponsor said it would require cardiovascular screening to help reduce cardiac-related student-athlete deaths and had endorsements from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. The sponsor described physicals as valid for 12 months, or through the following school year when completed after April 1. Asked whether students throughout Georgia could obtain the heart screening, the sponsor said it was already part of current practice, schools could continue on-site physicals, and parents could use private practitioners. A second member asked about further testing. The sponsor clarified that screening would be required during the physical and agreed that findings indicating a concern would lead to further examination. No action was recorded.

3. House Rules Committee, February 18, 2026

   From 0:38:11 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 970 on the day's floor calendar under structured rules without stated opposition. There was no discussion of its contents.

4. House floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20)

   From 1:18:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 682

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 970 would put existing high school athletic physical practices into law, allowing doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to conduct the exams. The sponsor said the bill also requires cardiovascular screening to help detect heart problems and reduce tragedies during athletic practices. A member asked whether every child would receive the screening or only children whose parental forms flagged a concern. The sponsor said every child would receive it, with referral to a specialist if questions or the examination revealed a problem. Asked what screening involved, the sponsor described personal and family medical history questions and a physical examination, including checks for heart murmurs, pulse and blood pressure in both arms. The member expressed support for prevention of sudden cardiac deaths. The House adopted the committee substitute without objection and passed the bill 166 to 0.

5. Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 23, 2026

   From 0:53:04 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the substitute would put current Georgia high school sports physical practices into law, allowing physicians, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to conduct the examinations. The sponsor described cardiovascular screening based on medical history, a physical examination and a parent-and-student questionnaire, with further examination when concerns arise. The sponsor also described extending the validity of physicals performed after April 1 through the following school year and cited support from national heart-health organizations. One member repeatedly questioned whether referencing national standards could eventually require scans or other testing. The chair and sponsor said the current proposal tightened the history and physical examination and did not require echocardiograms or electrocardiograms. Another member said lawmakers could change the law if future standards became unacceptable. The questioning member said they supported the bill with the understanding that scans were not required. The committee approved it, with the chair describing the vote as apparently unanimous.

6. Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026

   From 0:33:42 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described HB 970 as addressing high school sports physicals. The sponsor said physicians, osteopathic physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants would perform the examinations, which would include a cardiovascular examination, and said the Georgia High School Association supported it. After confusion over bill numbers, the sponsor clarified which measure concerned physicals. A member selected it, and the committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.

• Read aloud: House floor session, January 15, 2026 (legislative day 4), 0:43:33
• Read aloud: House floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5), 0:58:42
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 10, 2026 (legislative day 16), 0:47:59
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 0:33:29
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 25, 2026 (legislative day 37), 0:40:29

Status timeline

Sponsors

Votes

Topics