[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6643738,"mediaKeyId","2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab","parentId",2531846,"title","House hearing on HB 520 probes midwife licensure, safety, and access; Department of Public Health urges guardrails","audioSeconds",1810,"startMs",4583000,"endMs",6393000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab&start=4583&end=6393","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab/thumbnail_4583000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6643738/Georgia/House-hearing-on-HB-520-probes-midwife-licensure-safety-and-access-Department-of-Public-Health-urges-guardrails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643738-1620e0e4bb10610d38d9c13666dd2d67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174448&Signature=SMscZjkW2OIKiAYRj2k1DPv0JRK6xRbnRIjiG-h-j073OPsm-1SNAJsZh9kjzRtdmDrvdr2eLQiJh7Ks-zkaMOxWij43o1K4svc4xBADixRWk7Sfo07zMFw5EjVFu1kqBh0zW8kCnjmYZeAhbxFJZ4quqQVm86b503YEpQA2Z2dnzecMU6HSLQ-ShK4r2Nz4QOcWc7A9Y7AEEavtzG8CcipVNpFs4bG5bd191nhBA3zhBaJ~wScmkb1zrEckFPM8Z2cL~lgAqK6LWuqdxhTeEC2kUkj2m3ip-eKCtuPdvu4vcqi34ZSI-we4Umqch9K-tjnib69XTWXIKSm2KqhcaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-03-10T21:11:36.887Z","article","Representative Maziak presented House Bill 520 as a hearing-only bill to create a licensure framework for direct-entry/community midwives and an advisory board to regulate midwifery practice outside hospitals.

The author opened by describing concerns about \"bad actors\" practicing without standardized oversight and noted historical changes in Georgia regulation: non‑nurse midwife certification previously existed in Title 31 but ended when certified nurse‑midwife programs expanded. The bill would repeal the old chapter and move licensure under Title 43 (professions and licensing), establish an advisory board, set licensure pathways and renewal requirements, and create penalties and informed‑consent requirements for persons who call themselves \"midwives\" without the required training or license.

Witnesses supporting licensure described clinical training and outcomes for licensed and credentialed midwives. Sakissa Berry and Missy Burgess (certified professional midwife) explained differences between doulas, nurse‑midwives (CNMs), and direct‑entry midwives (CPMs and traditional midwives), noting direct‑entry pathways typically require 3–7 years of training and continuity-of-care practices including in‑home postpartum visits. Missy Burgess summarized the bill's four licensure pathways: (1) current national credential holders, (2) non‑credentialed midwives who document three years of apprenticeship and pass a competency exam, (3) a grandfathering pathway for direct‑entry midwives with 25 or more years' practice, and (4) midwives licensed in other jurisdictions with substantially similar requirements. She also referenced required CPR/newborn‑resuscitation certification and a pharmacology course for licensees.

Several mothers and clinicians testified in favor, citing continuity of care, improved postpartum outcomes and access for people choosing home birth. A labor-and-delivery nurse who is a CNM student described observed differences in intervention cascades in hospital care versus home birth, and multiple midwives described clinical training and emergency skills practice.

Opposition and concerns were raised. Megan Andrews, assistant commissioner for policy at the Georgia Department of Public Health, told the committee DPH has concerns about the bill as drafted: no requirement for physician supervision (in contrast to nursing protocols), no minimum proximity to a hospital or backup facility (rural hospital closures have increased travel distances), and lack of explicit treatment of multiple high‑risk conditions that would make home birth inappropriate (e.g., prior cesarean, preeclampsia, post‑dates or preterm labor, substance use). Andrews said DPH is not categorically opposed to licensure but recommended carefully drafted statutory guardrails.

Other witnesses urged broader or different approaches: some recommended the Department of Public Health retain certification authority rather than creating a new licensing board, and others recommended amendments to ensure grandmothering provisions and other pathways do not unintentionally exclude experienced community midwives. Representative Park Cannon offered that licensure may set too high a bar and proposed a substitute she said would preserve access while addressing safety; she circulated a proposed sub and urged additional review.

Committee members asked about data and scale. Testimony included a CDC-WONDER figure cited in the hearing that 5,861 intended home births occurred in Georgia between 2016 and 2023; one witness cited Georgia Department of Public Health rankings for prematurity, infant mortality and maternal mortality in 2022 (as presented in the packet). Witnesses also described that community midwives have filed birth certificates through the state's GABRIS system since 2013 and have performed newborn hearing screening with portable equipment purchased by midwives (machines costing roughly $5,000–$10,000).

The committee did not take a vote; the chair closed the hearing and said the bill will be continued for future consideration. Testimony revealed a substantive divide about supervision, data collection, grandfathering, and whether oversight should remain with the Department of Public Health or be assigned to a new licensing board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health 03.10.25","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 520 (hearing only) would create licensure and an advisory board for direct-entry/community midwives; testimony from midwives, mothers, clinicians and the Department of Public Health highlighted competing concerns about access, safety, grandfathering pathways, and scope of the advisory board's authority.","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",16937,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6643744,"Committee approves bill to codify organ‑transport vehicles as emergency response units",298,4047000,4345000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab&start=4047&end=4345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab/thumbnail_4047000.jpg","/articles/6643744/Georgia/Committee-approves-bill-to-codify-organtransport-vehicles-as-emergency-response-units","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643744-09dd7b554aeff827df7de481b253a58f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174448&Signature=bgDuEWIOAZwwrYfyJ~8-auPqJ5pG5BDES2aGzERmjyfIVNnkbBdlofP0l~H6JI~FOa-fQ~BzLaaWlIWhsQjvqVOAQT841P8plWxQa6B5McmeYrG4xsnzmRXhH1QfLe0M3N~ZGeTLWKxXgzW9lt10kXDJmBAn8mjPt2pwGRgc-6hisbMqp4yI4-5VD7-D0~aMahkoKUvrdA6rWazqPMuhOjNfNM3Mt7ln6lWjqDUxxUghju1MnhhttfpQqcWyEQAPiXO4EH9Ie7XmHK1-xs9Z5tiDy2r8XqgfS4G4thnnU26Xh0cUG2HEncD0cRm~VoWwvsjmlOob~1hZm3pfRV3F~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Albers presented legislation (LC394331) to clarify the status of organ‑transport vehicles and allow them to operate under the same statutory framework as other emergency vehicles when transporting organs and transplant teams.

Albers described personal motivation—he and a House member had donated kidneys to their children—and walked the committee through how organ transports sometimes require dedicated vehicles and teams to move organs quickly, sometimes across state lines. He said the bill would place organ‑transport vehicles explicitly in the Department of Public Safety's code so operators could apply for the same emergency privileges as ambulances when appropriate. He noted operators are typically retired firefighters, paramedics or police officers, and some serve as volunteers.

Albers said the change is largely a codification to cleanly authorize existing practice rather than a creation of a new program; he worked with the Department of Public Safety in drafting the language. The senator identified Colonel Billy Hitchens (Georgia Department of Public Safety) as a cooperating official and said Emory and Piedmont are among transplant hospitals that work with organ procurement organizations that operate nationwide.

After brief questions about operations, a committee member moved to give the bill a do‑pass recommendation; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The sponsor identified Representative Rick Townsend as the House sponsor.

The committee recorded a do‑pass recommendation (LC394331).","The committee gave a do‑pass recommendation to LC394331, a bill that adds organ‑transport vehicles to statutory definitions so they may operate with emergency lights and follow Department of Public Safety protocols to assist organ transplant logistics.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6643748,"Committee hears bill to expand medical-education funding and loan-repayment eligibility; members ask for drafted amendments",1055,3031000,4086000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab&start=3031&end=4086","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab/thumbnail_3031000.jpg","/articles/6643748/Georgia/Committee-hears-bill-to-expand-medical-education-funding-and-loan-repayment-eligibility-members-ask-for-drafted-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643748-f8c30ca8f1d0b66414b40fe94677fda3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174448&Signature=CqsTPOCykTNv8Km3hdeA7Op9B8l973hPb~1qGLZiepyHmJvo5QQWKsEMg6UpvvkLTHp~R5zo2IcIMCHS5-KWJBf4HV7KZVtJ9MS7KBicfiqmnbayWeJIKndDxG5hQv2wEFD3DZe49-5Ihq9nC6k3Whv~MZtO83GrQph7O3du1dhL~Ic2RHY2trza1UqCwGQL~iFGoiOmuCt0ZGGFDpqGmZIzKUqKHPFPvcsw8p7F60yq9uX1Goesbbx69nDw7qj084FQnneGhVjYlID~GpslOeoxBVk~f5Xfuauc2wHKuJuEkkbG8WXwLke80L1cjw9jgSaOttMnLV~g39y4eM6KQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Hodges brought Senate Bill 130 to the House Health Committee to expand the state's medical-education support and service-cancelable loan programs, aiming to increase the number of healthcare providers in underserved areas.

Hodges said the bill amends Title 31 to broaden the resident reimbursement program that directs the Department of Community Health to pay up to $10,000 per year for each resident participating in accredited graduate medical education programs. The measure changes the term \"designated teaching hospital\" to \"designated institutions,\" allowing additional medical facilities—such as federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and stand‑alone clinics with a CMS Medicare/Medicaid number—to receive reimbursement if they host ACGME-approved residency or fellowship positions.

The bill also adds final-year residents and fellows to the list of providers eligible for the Georgia Health Care Workforce Board's service-cancelable loan programs. Sponsor Chet Bassin (Executive Director, Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce) told the committee the program currently manages about $5 million and is competitive; allowing final‑year trainees to apply would expand the applicant pool but would not by itself appropriate new funds. Hodges said section 3 would require residency or fellowship participants be U.S. citizens or native-born.

Members questioned fiscal impact and program capacity. Representative Clark asked whether expanded eligibility would require additional appropriations; Bassin replied the bill does not request more money and the board currently preselects alternates because programs are often oversubscribed. Representative Douglas asked whether there is a fixed slot allotment; Bassin explained some sub-programs are limited to a managed number of slots (examples given: six dental slots, ten nurse-faculty slots) and the board scores applications on factors such as debt load and specialty.

The sponsor then described proposed amendments to modify O.C.G.A. 49-10-5: replace \"behavioral health care providers\" with \"all health care licensees\" in the minimum data set language and add a detailed list of licensees (physicians, pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, occupational and physical therapists, audiologists, psychologists, LPNs, RNs, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, psychiatric/mental health nurses). The stated purpose is to create a statewide health-provider data system useful to planners and consumers.

Committee members requested line-numbered drafted language. Representative Douglas asked to see the written amendment before voting; the sponsor agreed. The chair said the committee would treat the item as a hearing on the proposed changes, circulate the drafted amendment and bring the bill back for consideration at the next meeting.

No final committee vote on passage was recorded in the transcript; the committee agreed to continue the discussion after the legislative counsel drafts the amendment language.","Senate Bill 130 would broaden medical-education reimbursement and service-cancelable loan eligibility to include final‑year residents, additional institutions (FQHCs, clinics) and add data-collection changes; the sponsor presented amendments and the committee agreed to circulate drafted language and reconvene for a hearing.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6643753,"Georgia committee expands drug-checking tools to cover xylazine and other adulterants",448,2560000,3008000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab&start=2560&end=3008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531846-93c24a1a48daae7a5b71fe88789ef0ab/thumbnail_2560000.jpg","/articles/6643753/Georgia/Georgia-committee-expands-drug-checking-tools-to-cover-xylazine-and-other-adulterants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643753-8213c944b7f297515fea1983adb92b6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174448&Signature=Kh45864nU3eZubITaAZbXTPSfI-veQJEx1Kk7W0Y-4NQDhwNAixiWpQgPS4TVUmjn0rIMY3Dv0iKgwSViJcbDbmS4tK7VWsg~jtt89XNepuEJAuZMfwCshoUXk-i7ll1D5NFNFsrPa3PLM4lcTzWyR8l22Mvd-fz-vGNRERPar3jAm0SX8LPnj00nJN56SEQG-CbNidAbPYl3A1CUB4AXb2QloJJE6TQCD8SK~smjVm74PXUDp3p5BMqBu~WkVmbZo3IJy2K4js8~Hum5qGJwo3kGqcSbWTB556VNaICwK6UsPhvpkDRXUwQ-jEIJzTe1lXqhRkx4qLXYcsN5kLX5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Kay Kirkpatrick introduced Senate Bill 6 to the Georgia House Health Committee as a narrow measure to expand legal access to drug-checking tools for adulterants beyond synthetic opioids, citing a rise in deaths involving the non-opioid sedative xylazine.

The bill would broaden earlier language that legalized fentanyl test strips so that test strips or similar tools that detect xylazine or other emerging adulterants are not treated as illegal paraphernalia. \"This is probably the shortest bill that you're gonna see this session. Senate bill 6, and this is about drug overdoses,\" Kirkpatrick said in opening remarks, noting that many overdose deaths now involve multiple substances.

Kirkpatrick cited recent data showing a sharp increase in xylazine involvement in Georgia overdose deaths: an increase from 0.8 percent to 9 percent since 2022, and that all suspected xylazine-involved deaths in 2022 also involved fentanyl. She emphasized that xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer sometimes called \"tranq,\" is not an opioid and does not respond to naloxone (Narcan).

Two supporters spoke in favor during the committee's public comment phase. Jeff Breedlove, who identified himself as a person in long-term recovery and representing the Georgia Council for Recovery, said the strips \"undoubtedly will save somebody's life in Georgia.\" Mark Heiden of the R Street Institute described the measure as a harm-reduction step that accounts for the unpredictable nature of adulterants appearing in the illicit supply.

After brief committee discussion and no substantive questions, a committee member moved to advance the bill; another member seconded. The chair called for the ayes and announced the motion passed by voice vote. The sponsor identified the House sponsor as Chairman Cooper and the committee recorded the bill as LC520718SSCS.

The committee did not enter a roll-call vote; the transcript records a voice vote and the chair's announcement that the bill passed the committee.

The bill's language avoids listing specific chemicals so future adulterants can be covered without subsequent statutory fixes, and the sponsor stressed that the measure is intended as a pragmatic, life-saving step while prevention and treatment work continues.

Votes at a glance: the committee advanced Senate Bill 6 (LC520718SSCS) by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.","The Georgia House Health Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 6 to allow drug-checking tools beyond synthetic opioids, explicitly covering xylazine and other non-opioid adulterants; the measure passed the committee by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House hearing on HB 520 probes midwife licensure, safety, and access; Department of Public Health urges guardrails

Committee approves bill to codify organ‑transport vehicles as emergency response units

Committee hears bill to expand medical-education funding and loan-repayment eligibility; members ask for drafted amendments

Georgia committee expands drug-checking tools to cover xylazine and other adulterants