HB1056: HB1056 Education; replace term auto-injectable epinephrine with epinephrine and consolidate provisions relating to epinephrine and schools

Georgia law currently uses the term 'auto-injectable epinephrine' in several places to describe the emergency allergy medication schools can stock, and spreads related rules for schools across three separate sections of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-776, 20-2-776.1, and 20-2-776.2). This bill rewrites those sections into a single new O.C.G.A. § 20-2-776 covering student self-administration, school storage, staff training, liability protections, and stocking arrangements with manufacturers or suppliers, while repealing the other two sections. The bill also updates the definition of epinephrine in the new section and in O.C.G.A. §§ 26-4-116.1 and 31-1-15 so it covers any FDA-approved premeasured single-dose epinephrine delivery system, not just auto-injectors like EpiPens. It requires the State Board of Education, working with the Department of Public Health, to adopt implementing regulations by July 1, 2026.

• Repeals O.C.G.A. § 20-2-776 and replaces it with a new version that consolidates rules on students carrying, self-administering, and schools storing epinephrine.
• Repeals (and reserves, meaning removes without replacing) O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-776.1 and 20-2-776.2, folding their content on staff administration and stock supplies into the new § 20-2-776.
• Replaces the narrower term 'auto-injectable epinephrine' with 'epinephrine' throughout the affected school, pharmacy, and public health code sections.
• Broadens the legal definition of epinephrine to cover any FDA-approved premeasured single-dose delivery device, not just auto-injector pens.
• Keeps existing civil liability immunity for school employees, agents, and prescribing licensed practitioners who act in good faith administering epinephrine.
• Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to adopt implementing regulations by July 1, 2026.

Public and private K-12 schools, school nurses and other staff or agents trained to give epinephrine, students with severe allergies and their parents or guardians, licensed practitioners (physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants) who prescribe epinephrine for schools, and pharmacists who fill those prescriptions.

By broadening the definition beyond auto-injector pens, schools could stock and staff could use other FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices during a severe allergic reaction, potentially giving schools more options for treating anaphylaxis while keeping existing legal protections for staff and prescribers who act in good faith.

• Section 1 enacts a new O.C.G.A. § 20-2-776 covering student self-administration, school storage without self-administration, staff training, and liability immunity, replacing the repealed original section.
• Section 1(m) requires the State Board of Education, consulting with the Department of Public Health, to adopt implementing regulations no later than July 1, 2026.
• Sections 2 and 3 repeal and reserve O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-776.1 and 20-2-776.2, removing the separate provisions on staff administration and stock supplies that are now folded into § 20-2-776.
• Section 4 revises O.C.G.A. § 26-4-116.1 to update references from 'auto-injectable epinephrine' and from the repealed § 20-2-776.2 to the new consolidated § 20-2-776.
• Section 5 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-1-15 to replace 'auto-injectable epinephrine' with 'epinephrine' wherever it appears and updates the definition of epinephrine used for authorized entities.
• Section 6 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-06House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-02-02House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-29House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-01-28House Hopper (House)

• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)Primary sponsor
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Lynn Smith (R, HD-070)

• school health policy
• epinephrine and allergies
• student medication rules
• school liability protections