HR 592: House Study Committee on Noncompete Clauses in Physician Contracts; create

Georgia law currently allows noncompete clauses (also called restrictive covenants) in physician contracts, which can bar a doctor from practicing in a certain area for a set time after leaving a job. Courts review how broad these restrictions are, but there is no outright ban. This resolution does not change that law directly. Instead, it creates the House Study Committee on Noncompete Clauses in Physician Contracts to look into how these clauses affect patient access to care and the state's health care system. The committee would have five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson. It can meet as needed, and members get standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are approved. The committee must file any findings or proposed legislation with the Clerk of the House before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Noncompete Clauses in Physician Contracts, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study how noncompete clauses in physician contracts affect patient care and the state health care system.
• Allows the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets legislative allowances for committee members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless extended.
• Requires any approved findings or proposed legislation to be filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee ends.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

Physicians who sign employment contracts with noncompete clauses, hospitals and health systems that use such clauses, patients whose access to care could be affected by physician relocation limits, and the five House members appointed to the study committee.

The resolution itself changes nothing about current law, which still allows noncompete clauses for physicians in Georgia. But the study could lead to future legislation affecting whether doctors can be restricted from practicing nearby after leaving a job, which touches physician career mobility and patient access to care.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Noncompete Clauses in Physician Contracts.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also designates the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) gives the committee power to study the issue and recommend legislation it finds necessary.
• Paragraph (5) ties member allowances to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and limits paid days to five unless additional days are authorized, funded through House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved report or recommended legislation to be filed with the Clerk of the House before abolishment, or minutes filed if no report is approved.
• Paragraph (7) sets the committee's abolishment date as December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-02-19House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2025-03-27House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
4. 2025-03-20House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-18House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-03-13House Hopper (House)

• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)Primary sponsor

• physician noncompete clauses
• health care policy
• medical contracts
• legislative study committees