Rep. Angie O’Steen Applauds Signing of Legislation Expanding Rural Hospital and Emergency Department Eligibility

ATLANTA - State Representative Angie O'Steen (R-Ambrose) today announces that Senate Bill 111 was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp. Carried by Rep. O'Steen in the House, SB 111 expands the eligibility criteria for rural hospital organizations to include rural freestanding emergency departments and lowers indigent care thresholds, thereby increasing access to tax-credit-eligible contributions for rural healthcare providers in Georgia.

"This legislation strengthens our rural healthcare system by ensuring more providers are able to qualify for vital support and resources," said Rep. O'Steen. "Too many rural communities face limited access to healthcare options, and SB 111 is a meaningful step toward closing that gap. By expanding eligibility and lowering barriers, this bill will make a real difference for families who often have fewer choices and longer distances to travel for care. I appreciate Governor Kemp for signing this important bill into law and my colleagues in the General Assembly for their work in advancing it."

SB 111 also establishes that qualifying organizations must have their primary campus in a rural county and be licensed to provide maternal and newborn services or have at least five percent of their annual net revenue categorized as indigent care, charity care or bad debt.

The full text of SB 111 may be found here.

*Editor's note: A photo from the bill signing is included below.

Representative Angie O'Steen represents the citizens of District 169, which includes Irwin and Turner counties, as well as portions of Coffee and Tift counties. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Public & Community Health and Rural Development committees.

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