Georgia Bio 2019 Legislative Session Recap

The 2019 Georgia 40-day legislative session concluded with Sine Die on Tuesday, April 2nd. This legislative session was characterized by new leadership in the Governor and Lt. Governor’s office, as well as 40 freshman legislators.

Of the eight measures detailed below, there were two for which Georgia Bio actively advocated on behalf of our members and the people of georgia. Our rural teacher training program received state funding to expand an existing pilot training program for high school teachers that specifically addresses the skill and equipment gap. Workforce development and availability is always a top question we must address with life sciences companies seeking new locations, headquarters or expansions. More on this exciting development and program is coming soon.

We also took a supportive stance on HB 63, which helps protect patients from onerous step therapy requirements. That bill was signed into law by Governor Kemp as well.

We thank our legislative affairs team for their tireless work arranging and executing on awareness and importance meetings with appropriation committee members, the Governor’s and Lt. Governor’s offices. We also thank our members who contributed in person to those meetings to ensure the industry’s position and subject matter expertise were well represented in those conversations with our state legislators.

As Georgia Bio closes out a successful legislative session, we will be meeting with and working with as many members as possible during the remainder of the year to discuss top of mind priorities and construct our legislative efforts going into the 2020 session.

Here is a recap of the top life science industry items that made it through the session and were signed into law last month by Governor Kemp.

2019 Legislative Priorities

Rural Teacher Training Program

As many of you are aware, the life sciences industries require many skills that are in the traditional STEM education area, however what is often lacking is practical laboratory technique combined with hands-on laboratory experience. Thanks to the leadership of state appropriators and Governor Brian Kemp, Georgia Bio was able to secure funding in the FY2020 budget to match private funds that will enable Georgia Bio, through the Georgia BioEd Institute in partnership with the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing at Georgia Tech, to expand an existing pilot training program for high school teachers that specifically addresses the skill and equipment gap. Partnering with the Department of Education and the Georgia Youth Science Centers, year one of the program will provide 8 training workshops in rural school districts impacting roughly 64 high school teachers and reaching over 5,000 students.

BILL MOVEMENT

This session the Georgia Generally Assembly passed legislation that would establish step therapy protocols for patients, provisions for the licensure of genetic counselors, the authorization to submit a Section 1115 waiver request to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and modernizing telemedicine policy in Georgia. Please see below for more details on bills that passed out of the 2019 Georgia Legislative Session and signed into law by Governor Kemp.

HB 63 – Health Benefit Plans to Establish Step Therapy Protocols

Georgia Bio Legislative Affairs Committee voted to SUPPORT HB 63, introduced by Representative Sharon Cooper (R – Marietta) establishes step therapy protocols to protect patients from onerous step therapy requirements. Ensures that step therapy protocols are based on clinical guidelines developed by independent experts. Establishes a basic framework for when it is medically appropriate to exempt patients from step therapy, as well as an exceptions process that is transparent and accessible to patients and health care providers. The step therapy bill passed out of the Senate with a vote of 49-0 and House of Representatives with a vote of 165-0 on April 2 nd .

HB 166 – Genetic Counselors Act

Representative Deborah Silcox (R – Sandy Springs) authored HB 166, requiring licensing for genetic counselors, including physicians, assistants and mandates some continuing education requirements. There are approximately 89 genetic counselors in Georgia and all those individuals have master’s degrees for a specialty in genetic counseling and half work in hospitals. The other half of the genetic counselors work out in the field with physicians, primarily, and primary care doctors. They work primarily in three different areas: prenatal care, cardiac care and oncology. HB 166 passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 148-15 on February 15 th and was adopted by the Senate with a vote of 45-4 on March 11 th .


HB 321 – Extend Sunset for the Hospital Medicaid Financing Program

Authored by Representative Jodi lott (R – Evans) HB 321 extends Georgia’s hospital provide fee through June 30, 2025 to help finance the state’s Medicaid program. In FY 2020, the state expects to collect more than $310 million from the provider fee which it will utilize to draw more than $650 million in federal funds. The bill also includes new financial disclosure and transparency requirements for nonprofit hospitals and the five-year extension of the state’s $60 million rural hospital tax credit. The House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 147-19 on February 28 th and was adopted by the senate with a vote of 50-2 on March 29 th .

HB 514 – Georgia Mental Health Reform and Innovation Commission

HB 514 authored by Representative Kevin Tanner (R – Dawsonville) creates the Georgia Mental Health Reform and Innovation Commission. The FY 2020 budget also included several increases for mental health services. The House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 152-10 on March 7 th and the Senate adopted with a vote of 52-0 on April 2 nd .

SB 106 – Patients First Act

SB 106 coined the Patients First Act Authored by Senate Blake Tillery (R – Vidalia) authorizes the Department of Community Health to submit a Section 1115 waiver request to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This act is a step toward lowering insurance premiums, enhancing access to quality care, and improving health outcomes in every part of our state. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 35-20 on February 26 th and the House of Representatives adopted with a vote of 104-67 on March 25 th .


SB 115 – “Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia

SB 115 sponsored by Senator Renee Unterman (R – Buford) aims to provide telemedicine licenses for physicians in other states and for Georgia to engage in the practice of medicine with patients in the state through telemedicine. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 54-0 on February 26 th and the House of Representatives adopted with a vote of 161-2 on March 29 th .

SB 118 – Georgia Telemedicine Act

Authored by Senator Renee Unterman (R – Buford), SB 118 modernize the Georgia Telemedicine Act by renaming it to the Telehealth Act. The bill provides the definitions of telemedicine and telehealth and would require that all health insurance policies over appropriately provided telehealth services. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 50-0 on February 26 th and the House of Representatives adopted with a vote of 168-1 on March 25 th .

Georgia Bioscience Industry Reaches 42,605 Jobs, Contributing $1.5 Billion in Venture Capital Investment

October 28, 2026
New national report highlights Georgia’s growing bioscience workforce, research enterprise, and investment activity October 28— Georgia’s bioscience industry continues to expand its economic footprint, supporting 42,605 jobs across 4,281 business establishments statewide in 2025, according to a new report examining the economic impact of the U.S. bioscience industry. The U.S. Bioscience Economy: Advancing Innovation and Strengthening States and Regions, published by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the Council of State Bioscience Associations, and TEConomy Partners, provides a comprehensive assessment of the bioscience industry’s contributions to employment, wages, business growth, university research and development, and access to capital across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Georgia’s bioscience employment grew 7.6% between 2021 and 2025, slightly outpacing national growth. The state recorded employment gains across all five major bioscience industry subsectors, demonstrating the breadth of its life sciences economy. “Georgia’s bioscience industry is an important contributor to our state’s economic competitiveness, creating high-quality jobs and advancing research and innovation,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “These findings underscore the opportunity to build on Georgia’s strengths by strengthening connections among research institutions, industry, investors, and workforce partners to help more life sciences companies innovate and grow here.” Georgia’s Bioscience Industry: Key Findings The report highlights several indicators of Georgia’s bioscience industry strength: 42,605 jobs: Georgia’s bioscience industry employed more than 42,000 people in 2025, with employment growing 7.6% from 2021 to 2025. 4,281 business establishments: Bioscience companies and related businesses operate across the state, contributing to Georgia’s diverse economic base. $112,712 in average annual wages: Bioscience industry wages exceeded Georgia’s private-sector average by 52%, highlighting the sector’s contribution to high-value employment. $2.0 billion in university bioscience research: Georgia universities conducted $2.0 billion in bioscience-related research and development in fiscal year 2024. $789.5 million in NIH funding: Georgia institutions received $789.5 million in National Institutes of Health funding in fiscal year 2025. $1.5 billion in venture capital investment: Georgia bioscience companies attracted $1.5 billion in venture capital from 2021 through 2025. Georgia’s bioscience distribution subsector, the state’s largest, expanded employment by 10.3% during the period. Agricultural feedstock and industrial biosciences recorded the fastest percentage growth, reflecting the breadth of activity across the state’s bioscience economy. National Industry Impact Nationally, the U.S. bioscience industry generated $3.19 trillion in total economic output and directly employed 2.31 million Americans across more than 156,000 business establishments. The report examines the industry's economic footprint and the factors that support its continued growth, including research investment, workforce development, and access to capital. Building on Georgia’s Life Sciences Momentum The findings highlight Georgia’s substantial research enterprise, established industry base, and ability to attract investment. Continued growth will depend on strengthening the connections that help translate scientific discoveries into commercial opportunities, expand access to capital, develop a skilled workforce, and provide the infrastructure companies need to scale. Georgia Life Sciences works to advance the state’s life sciences ecosystem through policy and advocacy, workforce development, industry convening, and strategic collaboration. Its statewide roadmap, Pathways & Partnerships: A Roadmap for Georgia’s Life Sciences Sector, outlines a long-term vision for positioning Georgia as a leading scale-up manufacturing hub in the Southeast. “Georgia has significant assets across research, manufacturing, workforce, and logistics,” Goethe said. “By coordinating these strengths and addressing the gaps that can limit company growth, we can create more opportunities for innovation, investment, and long-term economic impact across the state.” Read the Report The full report, The U.S. Bioscience Economy: Advancing Innovation and Strengthening States and Regions, and Georgia’s state-specific profile are available from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Explore the national report and findings Download Georgia’s state profile (PDF)

Georgia Life Sciences Connects 23 Educators with Industry and Research at Savannah Regional Teacher Training Workshop

October 22, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences connected 23 educators with hands-on STEM learning and industry experts at its Savannah workshop to strengthen the workforce pipeline.

From Classroom to Industry: Forsyth County Teachers Explore Careers at Bend Bioscience

October 22, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences Institute connects 23 chemistry teachers with industry professionals to bring real-world career opportunities into the classroom. The Georgia Life Sciences Institute (GLSI) recently organized an industry visit for 23 Forsyth County chemistry teachers to Bend Bioscience in Gainesville, Georgia, offering educators a firsthand look at the careers, skills, and opportunities available within the state's growing life sciences sector. During the visit, teachers engaged directly with Bend Bioscience employees, toured the facility, and explored how concepts taught in chemistry classrooms translate into real-world applications. Conversations focused on workforce needs, career pathways, and the combination of technical and professional skills that help employees succeed in the life sciences industry. A particular area of interest was Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC), functions essential to maintaining the quality, safety, and consistency of life sciences products. These discussions helped educators better understand the range of careers available to students, including opportunities beyond traditional research and laboratory roles. The experience also demonstrated the impact of connecting educators directly with industry. Several participating teachers shared that the visit inspired them to discuss life sciences career opportunities with their own children, illustrating how greater career awareness can extend beyond the classroom. Both the educators and Bend Bioscience team expressed interest in continued engagement, reinforcing the value of building stronger connections between Georgia's schools and life sciences employers. Connecting Education and Industry Through initiatives like this visit, GLSI works to bridge the gap between education and industry by giving teachers direct exposure to the companies, technologies, and careers shaping Georgia's life sciences ecosystem. By equipping educators with firsthand industry knowledge, GLSI helps bring greater career awareness and real-world relevance into classrooms across the state, introducing students to pathways they may not have previously considered. Georgia Life Sciences Institute extends its appreciation to Bend Bioscience for welcoming Forsyth County educators and investing time in the teachers who help prepare Georgia's future workforce. Together, these partnerships are helping build awareness of the diverse opportunities available in Georgia's life sciences industry and strengthen the state's future talent pipeline.
MORE POSTS