Leesa Hagan: - 2026 Legislative Session Week 5 Update

Leesa Hagan:

My colleagues and I returned to the State Capitol last Monday to kick off the fifth week of the legislative session. The week was marked by the passage of over 20 bills, visits by many constituents from the 156th district, the Georgia Chamber’s Rural Day at the Capitol, and a busy committee schedule. Supporting Recovery

I am proud to sponsor House Bill 657 which passed the House last week. It takes a big step toward enhancing mental health and substance use recovery services in our state. This bill would legally define certified peer specialists and require that they be trained to provide ongoing support to individuals and families receiving mental health or substance use recovery services. HB 657 would also establish standards and requirements for recovery community organizations (RCOs). These are important organizations led and governed by local people that support individuals and families affected by substance use disorders by increasing access to peer support services and advocacy efforts. While RCOs currently operate independently to meet the unique needs of their communities, this legislation will strengthen and standardize peer support by setting clear training requirements and operational guidelines. This bill is supported by every RCO in the state and the Georgia Council for Recovery. It’s particularly important because Georgia has the second-largest number of RCOs in the nation. By creating these standards, the bill ensures that individuals have access to treatments that best meet their needs and support their recovery journey, while also protecting the integrity of these vital community-based programs. It passed with only two negative votes.

Prescribed Burning

Currently, counties and cities may set requirements for burning with the exception that they may not prohibit prescribed burns. House Bill 983 would clarify the definition of prescribed burning in the Georgia Code. By more clearly defining it, government entities and property owners will have a better understanding of what may and may not be prohibited by localities. I was happy to sponsor this bill at the request of the Georgia Forestry Commission, and it passed unanimously. Streamlining Licensing

Modernizing and streamlining the licensing and credentialing process for Georgia’s medical professionals was also a priority this week as we unanimously passed SB 162. In practical terms, the system would create a single statewide verification process for physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants. Instead of repeating credentialing paperwork for every facility, providers would maintain one verified profile. As a result, healthcare professionals could begin serving patients more quickly. From my experience in small business, I know how inefficient paperwork slows progress. Streamlining licensing helps providers focus on patients rather than forms.

NIL Guardrails

On Wednesday, we unanimously passed HB 383, bipartisan legislation that would regulate Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) compensation for Georgia high school student athletes. High school student athletes can already earn compensation through NIL deals. This bill would establish guardrails to protect students from exploitation by requiring the automatic expiration of NIL contracts once a student athlete is no longer enrolled in a participating high school. Without this automatic expiration, these minors are at risk of agreeing to a long-term, binding contract that could later impact their eligibility for collegiate opportunities. Notably, HB 383 would prohibit student athletes from receiving NIL compensation as an incentive to compete for a specific school. This bill’s goal is to protect students from exploitation and maintain integrity in high school sports.

Completion School Updates We unanimously passed legislation to improve educational outcomes and graduation rates in Georgia. HB 907 would make several updates to the Completion Special Schools Act by revising their procedures. These public, non-traditional schools are designed to help students in grades nine through 12 who have dropped out, or are at risk of dropping out, earn their high school diploma. These schools offer flexible, selfpaced learning options, including evening and weekend classes, to meet students where they are. Resident school systems would be required to share information about completion schools with students and their parents. In addition, resident school systems would be allowed to share contact information for students who stop attending or withdraw, giving completion schools the opportunity to connect with at-risk students to provide pathways to finish their education. The goal of this bill is to make sure students who may not be able to attend traditional school understand there is an alternative way to earn their high school diploma.

Government Transparency

The House took steps this week to strengthen transparency and accountability in state government by passing HB 903. In fact, the bill passed almost unanimously with only the three Governor’s Floor Leaders voting no. HB 903 updates existing law to clarify that all executive branch agencies must follow the Georgia Administrative Procedures Act when adopting certain rules. Specifically, state boards, commissioners, departments with rulemaking authority would be subject to the same public notice, comment, and procedural requirements that govern formal rulemaking. By codifying that these standards apply broadly across the executive branch, the bill would ensure consistency and transparency in the rulemaking process, while preserving the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

An Additional Judge

House Bill 1215 would increase the number of superior court judges in the Middle Judicial Circuit (Candler, Emanuel, Jefferson, Toombs, and Washington counties) from two to three. The third judge would be appointed for a term beginning January 1, 2027, continuing through December 31, 2028. A successor would be elected at the nonpartisan judicial election in 2028. Visitors to the Capitol

• Mrs. Lori Morris and Toombs County FCCLA students • Missy and Kareem Owens, GABRC County Liaisons • Board Members from Altamaha EMC and Canochee EMC • Michele Johnson, Debbie Evans, and Mike Hagan with the Greater Vidalia Chamber and Jason Dunn, Melissa Dark, and Hal Wiley with the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Chamber attended the Georgia Chamber Rural Day at the Capitol.

On Tuesday, February 17, we will return to the Capitol following the President’s Day holiday. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me regarding issues that are being considered under the Gold Dome, and I encourage you to stay connected with our work at the Capitol as we move through the remainder of the legislative session. You may contact me by email at Leesa.Hagan@house. ga.gov. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your state representative for the 2025–2026 term.