Georgia lawmakers are weighing a bill that would put human-formulated ivermectin on pharmacy shelves without a prescription, turning an already heated debate over the drug into one of the most closely watched fights of the legislative session.
The proposal, House Bill 1089, has pulled standing-room-only crowds into committee this week as legislators argue over whether pharmacies should replace feed stores as the main place people get the drug. Supporters frame the move as an access and safety fix, saying it could steer people away from animal products. Public-health experts counter that ivermectin has not been proved effective against COVID‑19 or cancer and warn that easier access could fuel misuse and real safety problems.
What HB 1089 Would Change
HB 1089 would remove ivermectin from Georgia’s definition of "dangerous drugs" and allow certain human-formulated versions to be sold over the counter, without a prescription or pharmacist consultation. The bill was introduced on Jan. 29, 2026, and lists Rep. Karen Mathiak as one of its primary sponsors. It is currently marked as pending in the House Health Committee, according to LegiScan.
Backers say the change would shift purchases from feed stores to pharmacies, which they argue are better equipped to control dosing and labeling and to sell only human-approved formulations.
Supporters Say Pharmacies Are Safer Than Feed Stores
Supporters of HB 1089 say the current situation, with some Georgians buying animal ivermectin from farm stores, is a safety problem waiting to happen.
"What happens now is people are buying it out of Tractor Supply and farm supply houses, and dosing by weight," Rep. Mathiak told local reporters during committee testimony, arguing that over-the-counter sales in pharmacies would come with clearer labeling and safer dosing, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Mathiak and other backers point to similar efforts in other states as a template, saying those laws show that states can loosen access while still setting some guardrails around how the drug is sold.
Health Experts Warn Evidence Is Thin And Risks Exist
Infectious-disease specialists and public-health officials are not impressed. They note that large, well-designed clinical trials have not shown ivermectin to be effective at treating COVID‑19 or cancer.
Emory University infectious-disease expert Dr. Colleen Kraft told GPB’s Healthbeat that "there is not enough evidence clinically" to support using ivermectin for those conditions. Federal health agencies have also documented spikes in poison-control calls and serious adverse events tied to misuse of the drug, according to the CDC Health Alert Network.
Professional medical groups have taken a similar line. The American Medical Association and partner organizations have urged clinicians and pharmacists to avoid prescribing or dispensing ivermectin for COVID‑19 outside of clinical trials, warning that doing so can be harmful, according to the AMA.
Part Of A Broader State-Level Push
Georgia’s debate is part of a broader wave of ivermectin legislation across the country. Several states have already moved to loosen access to the drug or to set up pharmacist-driven dispensing systems.
Recent reporting notes that Tennessee, Arkansas, Idaho and Louisiana have all passed laws that make it easier to obtain ivermectin, and lawmakers in multiple other states have filed new bills this year, according to Axios. Supporters often describe these measures as protecting "medical freedom." Critics say the laws risk steering people away from treatments that have strong clinical backing.
Where The Bill Stands In Georgia
A House committee took testimony on HB 1089 this week but did not hold a vote, leaving its path forward uncertain for the rest of the session. The measure is one of at least two recent ivermectin-related proposals at the Capitol and lists Rep. Karen Mathiak as a primary sponsor, according to local reporting by GPB. If the bill does advance, it would still need to clear both chambers and secure the governor’s signature before becoming law.
Pharmacists Face Practical Questions
Pharmacists and pharmacy groups say moving ivermectin over the counter would trigger a long list of practical questions. They point to issues like how customers would be screened, whether age limits would apply, what labels must say and who is on the hook if something goes wrong.
The Georgia Pharmacy Association’s legislative updates highlight implementation challenges that cropped up after similar laws were passed in other states, and pharmacy leaders say staff would need clear legal protections and clinical guidance, according to the association’s tracking. Many pharmacists say they are all for counseling patients, but worry an over-the-counter switch could encourage more people to self-medicate without talking to a health care provider first.
Lawmakers ended the committee hearing with the door open for more testimony and more nitty-gritty questions about how an over-the-counter system would actually work. Public-health officials continue to stress that authorized COVID‑19 treatments and vaccination remain the safest options, and federal regulators caution against taking ivermectin for COVID‑19 outside approved uses, according to the FDA.
