Bill > HB605

This bill requires the Georgia Department of Public Health to continue operating the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line, a free public health service designed to help people quit smoking, vaping, and using tobacco products, contingent upon available funding. The Quit Line will provide comprehensive cessation services available 24/7, including telephone, text, and internet-based support for individuals 13 and older, with specific services for pregnant and postpartum women. The service will offer multilingual support, community resource referrals, free nicotine replacement therapies for qualified residents 18 and older, and importantly, will now include information about and referrals to lung cancer screening services. The bill mandates that retailers selling tobacco, vapor, or alternative nicotine products must display department-created signage about the Quit Line and distribute informational materials to customers. The Quit Line must follow national treatment guidelines, protect individual privacy, ensure data security, and use de-identified data to track service effectiveness and identify trends. By expanding the Quit Line's scope and requiring broader retailer participation, the bill aims to increase awareness and accessibility of tobacco cessation resources while promoting public health awareness about lung cancer screening.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70733