Crossover Countdown: Your Voice Matters

The Watcher

News from Georgia Watch

February 2025

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Legislative Update: Day 25

Throughout this first year of the 2025-2026 biennial legislative session, we’ve been active at the Capitol to shine a light on critical consumer protection issues to keep Georgians safe from financial harm and increase access to healthcare. Crossover Day for the 2025 session is fast approaching on Thursday, March 6! Generally, a bill must cross from one chamber to the other by this date to be passed during the session. This means we need your voice at the Capitol to make sure important legislation is called up for a vote to move forward or to stop risky bills from advancing.

Read more about the status of legislation we strongly support that has yet to cross over below:

House Bill 291, to create a pathway to certification for Community Health Workers (CHWs), passed out of the Public and Community Health Committee on Wednesday, February 26. Currently it’s in the House Rules Committee. A similar bill, Senate Bill 290, was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday. A state certification for Community Health Workers (CHWs) would standardize training on core competencies and address assessment and continuing education needs to strengthen and sustain the CHW workforce connecting communities to care.

Senate Bill 262 was introduced with bipartisan support on Thursday, February 27. The bill would require insurers to cover preventative services at no cost, which is currently mandated by the Affordable Care Act. However, a case before the Supreme Court pending a decision this summer could overturn this mandate. SB 262 provides a state-based solution to ensure Georgians continue to receive life-saving services like cancer screenings, diabetes screenings, and medications to reduce disease risk without financial barriers. SB 262 must be voted out of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee by Monday to receive a full Senate vote before Crossover Day.

Senate Bill 34 would prevent Georgia Power from passing on the costs of servicing new large load data centers to other customers. The bill was passed by the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee on Tuesday, February 26 and is now in the Senate Rules Committee.

Check out our Take Action page to see the other bills we are following and how you can get involved. Be on the lookout for action alerts as we call on you to contact your legislators on the issues that matter most to you.

Liz Coyle,

Executive Director

3rd Annual Community Health Worker Awareness Day Recap

On February 11, Georgia Watch, in collaboration with our partners, successfully hosted the 3rd Annual Community Health Worker (CHW) Awareness Day at the Capitol.

Despite the rain, over 150 CHWs, advocates, and volunteers gathered for this impactful event, demonstrating the vital role CHWs play in strengthening healthcare access and improving community well-being.

Throughout the day, attendees engaged with legislators, shared powerful stories, and elevated the need for policy solutions that support and expand the CHW workforce.

In an exciting turn of events, some advocates even made their way across the street at the close of Awareness Day to witness the first committee presentation of the CHW Certification Bill House Bill 291—a significant step toward formal recognition and sustainability for CHWs in Georgia.

We are grateful to all who participated and helped make this event a success. Your voices and dedication continue to drive meaningful change for Georgia’s communities!

If you missed CHW Awareness Day and would like to learn more about the CHW workforce, click below.

Learn more!

Accessing Prenatal Care in Georgia: A Host of Challenges and Proven Solutions

Pregnant women across the state of Georgia are struggling to access comprehensive healthcare and ensure that their pregnancies are safe. According to research we gathered in 2024, women are falling through gaps in the healthcare system, facing severe delays in starting care or being denied care altogether. Addressing these concerns requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to eliminate barriers in the care system. Policies to improve healthcare access for pregnant patients will enhance maternal health outcomes and generate broader positive impacts across the healthcare system, benefiting all Georgians. The Georgia Watch team collaborated with several key stakeholders and community leaders to create a policy report that identifies and addresses the root causes creating barriers to prenatal care. READ MORE HERE

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Atlanta, Georgia 30303

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