HB620: HB620 State holidays; Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day; designate

This bill amends Georgia's holidays and observances law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 4 of Title 1) to create a new annual observance called Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day, set for February 17 each year. The bill does not create a paid state holiday; it simply adds a designated day of recognition to Georgia law. The bill includes lengthy legislative findings describing the importance of blood plasma donations to medical treatments, the size of the plasma market, and the prevalence of sickle cell disease among people of African descent in Georgia and nationally. It notes that individuals of African descent make up a large share of plasma donors but that no plasma collection centers in Georgia are owned by people from that community. The new law would take effect July 1, 2026.

• Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 1-4-28, designating February 17 of each year as 'Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day' in Georgia.
• States legislative findings about the importance of blood plasma donation, the prevalence of sickle cell disease, and the lack of Georgia plasma centers owned by people of African descent.
• Sets the effective date of the new law as July 1, 2026.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new designation.

The designation mainly affects public awareness efforts around blood plasma donation in Georgia, including advocacy groups, health organizations, and communities affected by sickle cell disease, particularly Georgians of African descent who are highlighted in the bill's findings.

While the bill does not create new programs, funding, or regulations, formally designating the day could support public awareness campaigns about blood plasma donation and the underrepresentation of Black-owned plasma collection centers in Georgia, potentially informing future policy discussions.

• Section 1 lists legislative findings on the medical importance of blood plasma, the scale of the plasma industry, and the disproportionate impact of sickle cell disease on people of African descent.
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 1-4-28 to Chapter 4 of Title 1, designating February 17 as 'Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day' in Georgia.
• Section 3 sets the effective date of the Act as July 1, 2026.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-11House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2025-03-03House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
4. 2025-02-28House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-27House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-26House Hopper (House)

• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)Primary sponsor
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Joe Campbell (R, HD-171)
• Reynaldo Martinez (R, HD-111)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Floyd Griffin (D, HD-149)

• blood plasma donation
• sickle cell disease
• state observances
• health awareness