HR274: HR274 General Assembly; appropriate an additional $2 million annually to the Georgia Pregnancy and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; urge

25 LC 46 1099 House Resolution 274 By: Representatives Westbrook of the 163rd, Miller of the 62nd, Oliver of the 84th, Lim of the 98th, Park of the 107th, and others A RESOLUTION Urging the General Assembly to appropriate an additional $2 million annually to the Georgia1 Pregnancy and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, in lieu of all moneys currently2 being appropriated to fund crisis pregnancy centers; and for other purposes.3 WHEREAS, this resolution shall be named the "Fund Healthy Pregn ancy and Parenting4 Resolution"; and5 WHEREAS, in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, the Governor has suppo rted adding6 $2.98 million to increase funds to expand a pilot program to provide in-home visits for at-risk7 and underserved rural communities during pregnancy and early childhood to improve birth8 outcomes, reduce preterm deliveries, and decrease infant and maternal mortality rates; and9 WHEREAS, this program shall be referred to as the Georgia Pregnancy and Early Childhood10 Home Visiting Program; and 11 WHEREAS, this program as administered by the Department of Public Health has produced 12 positive outcomes and is worthy of increased support; and13 WHEREAS, there are approximately 89 crisis pregnancy centers in this state; and 14 H. R. 274 - 1 - 25 LC 46 1099 WHEREAS, crisis pregnancy centers are often fronts for antiabortion activities; and 15 WHEREAS, the main purpose of these centers is often to coerce p regnant populations,16 especially those having unintended pregnancies, into not having an abortion rather than17 providing them with comprehensive, fact based reproductive care; and18 WHEREAS, because these centers are sometimes mistaken for actua l clinics providing 19 abortion services, the state's support of their activities puts pregnant populations at greater20 risk; and21 WHEREAS, no further taxpayer money should be appropriated to such centers; and22 WHEREAS, even if Georgians did receive some benefit from such centers, abortion rights23 are currently restricted in this state beyond six weeks, except in special situations; therefore,24 there should be less need for such centers; and25 WHEREAS, consequently, if the number of abortions occurring in this state are decreasing26 due to that law, the need for any services provided by such centers should also be decreasing; 27 and28 WHEREAS, the most recent budget appropriated approximately $2 m illion to fund crisis29 pregnancy centers; and30 WHEREAS, this year's budget should provide funding to the Georgia Pregnancy and Early31 Childhood Home Visiting Program by such amount in lieu of appropriating such moneys to32 crisis pregnancy centers; and33 H. R. 274 - 2 - 25 LC 46 1099 WHEREAS, this proposal would not cost taxpayers any additional moneys; and34 WHEREAS, this proposal would better allocate the resources of this state to meet the needs35 of its residents. 36 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that37 members of this body urge the General Assembly to appropriate a n additional $2 million38 annually to the Georgia Home Visiting program to improve birth outcomes, reduce preterm39 deliveries, and decrease infant and maternal mortality rates, i n lieu of appropriating such40 moneys to fund crisis pregnancy centers. 41 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized42 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the43 General Assembly's legislative leaders. 44 H. R. 274 - 3 -