2025 Georgia Legislative Summary

2025 Georgia Legislative Session Summary

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Georgians touched by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2025 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the Georgia General Assembly on legislative and regulatory efforts that address disruption in cancer care and screenings; provide affordable, adequate access to healthcare insurance including Medicaid; as well as appropriations funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention policies that help people that use tobacco products quit and deter kids from ever using tobacco products. We made the following evidence-based policies a priority and ask for your continued support:  

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• Medicaid Expansion: ACS CAN advocated for low-income individuals and families to have access to health insurance coverage through state Medicaid programs. We supported policies that preserve funding and access to Medicaid for low-income parents and adults and advocated for Medicaid expansion in Georgia. A bi-partisan bill to expand Medicaid was introduced but unfortunately the GA General Assembly did not take action to pass the bill in 2025.  

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

• Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN advocated to maintain funding of $1.3 million for The Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, the state breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the Georgia Department of Health. 

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN worked to maintain state funding for evidence-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs. The state funds the program at $2.1 million annually.  
• Preventing Bad Tobacco Bills:  ACS CAN stopped a tobacco industry bill the “Georgia Nicotine Vapor Products Directory Act” this session. The bill would have spent unnecessary resources on a product directory instead of proven policies that reduce tobacco use.

--- For more information, contact:  Fabienne Antoine-Nasser, Government Relations Director ACS CAN [email protected]

ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information please visit https://www.fightcancer.org/