SR927: SR927 Senate Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications Study Committee; create

Pharmacy benefits managers (companies that administer prescription drug insurance benefits, negotiate with drug makers and pharmacies, and set drug pricing lists) have drawn criticism from state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission for practices like steering patients to their own affiliated pharmacies and marking up drug costs. This resolution creates the Senate Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications Study Committee to look into these issues in Georgia. The committee would include the chairs of the Senate Appropriations and Health and Human Services Committees, three more members or experts appointed by the President of the Senate, and a chairperson chosen by the President of the Senate. It can hold meetings, study the problems described in the resolution, and recommend legislation. Members get standard travel and expense allowances funded through the Senate's budget. The committee must stand abolished on December 1, 2026, and can file a report with any findings or recommended legislation before then.

• Creates the Senate Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications Study Committee to investigate drug pricing and pharmacy access issues in Georgia.
• Sets committee membership as two Senate committee chairs plus three more members or experts appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Authorizes the committee to hold meetings, study the issues described, and recommend legislation it considers necessary.
• Provides daily expense allowances and mileage reimbursement for legislative and non-legislative committee members, capped at five days unless more are authorized.
• Requires the committee to file a report or committee meeting minutes with the Secretary of the Senate before it is abolished.
• Sets December 1, 2026 as the date the committee automatically stands abolished.

The resolution directly affects Senate committee members appointed to serve, along with pharmacy benefits managers, independent and affiliate pharmacies, drug manufacturers, insurers, employers, and patients whose prescription drug costs and pharmacy access the committee would study.

The study committee itself changes no law, but its findings could shape future legislation on drug pricing, pharmacy steering, and reimbursement practices that affect what Georgians pay for prescriptions and whether their county has a pharmacy at all.

• Paragraph (1) creates the study committee under the Senate.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership: the Senate Appropriations chair, the Senate Health and Human Services chair, three additional members or experts appointed by the President of the Senate, and a chairperson designated by the President of the Senate.
• Paragraph (3) directs the committee to study pharmacy benefits manager practices and consumer access to medications and to recommend legislation.
• Paragraph (4) lets the chairperson call meetings at any time or place needed to carry out the committee's work.
• Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and § 45-7-21, funded through Senate appropriations, capped at five days unless extended.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee is abolished, or minutes filed if no report is approved.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-03-20Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-03-19Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2026-03-09Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2026-03-06Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)Primary sponsor
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Steven McNeel (R, SD-018)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #875

• pharmacy benefits managers
• prescription drug prices
• pharmacy access
• Senate study committee
• health care costs