SB 39: Employees' Insurance and Benefits Plans; expenses for gender-affirming care under the state health benefit plan or with any state funds; prohibit coverage

Although SB 39 was originally titled as a bill about gender-affirming care coverage under the state health plan, the version of the text provided here is a House Committee on Health substitute that rewrites the bill entirely. It fills in a previously reserved chapter of Georgia law (Title 31, Chapter 31) to create a formal certification system for community health workers, people who provide health education, outreach, and support in community settings like homes, schools, and clinics. The bill sets up an 11 member Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee appointed by the commissioner of public health, made up of doctors, a social worker, employer representatives, and practicing community health workers. The committee would recommend training and certification standards to the Department of Public Health, approve training programs, and review applications from workers seeking certification, including criminal background checks. The committee would be abolished in 2030, with its duties passing to the department. The law would only take effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it.

• Replaces a reserved chapter of Georgia law with a full certification system for 'community health workers,' defining who qualifies and what they do.
• Creates an 11 member Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee appointed by the commissioner of public health, plus two nonvoting department representatives.
• Requires applicants for certification to be 18 or older, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, pass a criminal background check, and complete 2,000 hours of work experience plus approved training.
• Sets rules for approving training programs, including a minimum of 45 hours of core competency training with 16 hours on specific health topics.
• Schedules the certification committee to dissolve on June 30, 2030, transferring its powers to the Department of Public Health.
• Makes the entire law contingent on the General Assembly separately appropriating money to fund it.

Community health workers and people who train them, hospitals and federally qualified health centers that employ them, the Department of Public Health and its commissioner, physicians and social workers who would serve on the new certification committee, and Georgians who rely on community-based health outreach and support services.

If funded, Georgia would for the first time have an official state certification for community health workers, potentially standardizing training and giving these workers a recognized professional title. Employers and workers would face new application, background check, and renewal requirements, and the program would not start unless lawmakers separately provide money for it.

• Section 1 rewrites Chapter 31 of Title 31 of Georgia law, defining terms like 'certified community health worker,' 'community health worker,' and 'core competencies' (O.C.G.A. § 31-31-1).
• Establishes the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee, its 11 voting members, two-year terms, and a June 30, 2030 abolishment date (O.C.G.A. § 31-31-2).
• Gives the committee power to recommend certification and training standards, review complaints, and discipline certified workers, subject to open meetings law (O.C.G.A. § 31-31-3).
• Sets training program approval requirements, including 45 hours of core competency training and a biennial renewal cycle (O.C.G.A. § 31-31-4).
• Details individual certification requirements, including age, education, references, criminal background checks through the Georgia Crime Information Center, and 2,000 hours of work experience (O.C.G.A. § 31-31-5).
• Section 2 makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating funds for it in a future budget act.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2025-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2025-02-13House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-12House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-11Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-02-11Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-02-06Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)Primary sponsor
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)

1. FailedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   19 yea, 33 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Adoption Of Amendment #2 By The Senator From The 41st: Senate Vote #39

2. FailedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   19 yea, 33 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Reconsider Amendment #2: Senate Vote #40

3. PassedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   33 yea, 19 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #41

4. PassedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   32 yea, 18 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Immediately Transmit: Senate Vote #42

• community health workers
• public health licensing
• Department of Public Health
• health workforce training