Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB605 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 61 0019
2	2	House Bill 605
3	3	By: Representatives Lim of the 98
4	4	th
5	5	, Roberts of the 52
6	6	nd
7	7	, and Lupton of the 83
8	8	rd
9	9
10	10	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
11	11	AN ACT
12	12	To amend Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
13	13	1
14	14	relating to general provisions related to the Department of Public Health, so as to require the2
15	15	Department of Public Health to continue operation of the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line, subject3
16	16	to appropriations or the availability of other funds; to provide for definitions; to provide4
17	17	requirements for the Quit Line; to provide that the Quit Line will provide information about,5
18	18	evaluation for, and referrals to lung cancer screening services; to provide for the utilization6
19	19	and security of any data collected by the Quit Line; to provide for the creation of written7
20	20	materials with information about the Quit Line by the Department of Public Health and to8
21	21	require certain sellers of tobacco products to display and distribute such written materials;9
22	22	to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.10
23	23	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11
24	24	SECTION 1.12
25	25	Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to13
26	26	general provisions related to the Department of Public Health, is amended by adding a new14
27	27	Code section to read as follows:15
28	28	H. B. 605
29	29	- 1 - 25 LC 61 0019
30	30	"31-2A-21.16
31	31	(a) As used in this Code section, the term:17
32	32	(1) 'Alternative nicotine product', 'cigarette', 'tobacco product', 'tobacco related object',18
33	33	and 'vapor product' shall have the same meanings as set forth in Code Section 16-12-170.19
34	34	(2) 'Quit Line' means the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line operated by the Department of20
35	35	Public Health pursuant to this Code section.21
36	36	(b) Subject to appropriations or the availability of other funds, the department shall22
37	37	continue to operate, maintain, and make available a public health service to help Georgians23
38	38	quit smoking, vaping, and using all forms of tobacco products, known as the Georgia24
39	39	Tobacco Quit Line. The department may contract for the design, operation, and25
40	40	maintenance of the Quit Line.26
41	41	(c) The Quit Line shall be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Quit Line27
42	42	shall:28
43	43	(1) Provide cessation services that address the use of all tobacco products;29
44	44	(2) Provide telephone, text, and internet based services for users of tobacco products,30
45	45	vapor products, and alternative nicotine products, provided that such users are 13 years31
46	46	of age or older;32
47	47	(3) Provide services and support for pregnant and postpartum women who use tobacco33
48	48	products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products;34
49	49	(4) Provide support in multiple languages;35
50	50	(5) Provide referrals to community resources, when applicable;36
51	51	(6) Provide free supplies of nicotine replacement therapies, such as gum or patches, for37
52	52	qualified Georgia residents 18 years of age and older;38
53	53	(7) Provide information about lung cancer screening to individuals accessing the Quit39
54	54	Line, evaluate lung cancer screening eligibility for individuals accessing the Quit Line,40
55	55	and provide referrals to lung cancer screening services, when applicable;41
56	56	(8) Follow national guidelines for treating tobacco use and dependence;42
57	57	H. B. 605
58	58	- 2 - 25 LC 61 0019
59	59	(9) Implement practices to comply with all applicable laws respecting individual and43
60	60	patient privacy;44
61	61	(10) Implement practices to ensure the security of any data collected, if applicable, in45
62	62	line with industry best practices and in compliance with all applicable laws; and46
63	63	(11) Utilize de-identified data to track the success of the Quit Line's operations and47
64	64	identify trends in service needs and outcomes.48
65	65	(d) The department shall design appropriate written materials, including signage and49
66	66	materials for distribution by retailers to individuals who purchase cigarettes, tobacco50
67	67	products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products, to inform individuals about the51
68	68	Quit Line. Such written materials shall include:52
69	69	(1) Information on the services provided by the Quit Line, including information about53
70	70	services related to lung cancer screening;54
71	71	(2) Information on the effectiveness of and eligibility for lung cancer screening; and55
72	72	(3) Contact information for the Quit Line, such as a telephone number or a public56
73	73	website.57
74	74	(e)(1) Any person owning or operating a place of business in which cigarettes, tobacco58
75	75	products, tobacco related objects, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products are sold59
76	76	or offered for sale shall post in a conspicuous place signage designed by the department60
77	77	pursuant to subsection (d) of this Code section.61
78	78	(2) Any person provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall distribute to62
79	79	individuals purchasing cigarettes, tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative63
80	80	nicotine products the written materials designed by the department pursuant to subsection64
81	81	(d) of this Code section."65
82	82	SECTION 2.66
83	83	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.67
84	84	H. B. 605
85	85	- 3 -