Georgia Senior Living Association Applauds Passage of SB 439 and HB 659
Georgia Senior Living Association Applauds Passage of SB 439 and HB 659
ATLANTA, GA – 5/14/26 – The Georgia Senior Living Association (GSLA) extends its appreciation to Governor Brian Kemp for signing into law two important pieces of legislation impacting Georgia’s senior living industry: Senate Bill 439 and House Bill 659.
Together, these bills represent meaningful progress toward improving transparency for families, strengthening resident care, and supporting operational efficiency for senior living providers across the state.
SB 439 establishes greater transparency and reasonable guardrails surrounding the relationship between senior living providers, referral agencies, and families seeking assisted living services. Under the new law, referral agencies must disclose to prospective residents and families that they receive compensation for successful referrals, that additional community options may exist beyond those presented, and that families may discontinue use of the referral service at any time.
The legislation also creates a 24-month maximum timeframe between an initial referral and resident move-in for referral fee eligibility and requires agencies to renew referrals after 12 months. Additionally, SB 439 clarifies that an authorized representative involved in the referral process must be someone directly engaged in the search for assisted living or personal care services.
HB 659 includes an important update to the Certified Medication Aide (CMA) task list by allowing CMAs to administer GLP-1 medications. This update helps providers meet resident healthcare needs more efficiently while minimizing disruption to daily medication management operations. The bill also modernizes CMA training and skills requirements to align with evolving resident care needs.
“These bills are important steps forward for Georgia’s senior living industry,” said Seth Daniels, Director of Government Affairs. “SB 439 improves transparency and protections for families navigating senior living decisions, while HB 659 provides providers with practical tools to better serve residents and support care teams. We appreciate Governor Kemp and the bills’ sponsors for recognizing the needs of Georgia’s senior living communities and their residents.”
GSLA remains committed to advocating for policies that strengthen senior living communities, support caregivers and providers, and enhance quality of life for Georgia’s aging population.
For more information about GSLA and its advocacy efforts, visit www.gasla.org.