HR488: HR488 Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center; commend

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors the Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center (SOWEGA-AHEC), a nonprofit that works to increase the number of healthcare providers in 38 counties across southwest Georgia. The resolution describes the organization's leadership, its history, and its recent achievements, including engaging thousands of participants and recruiting nearly 4,000 students in 2024. It highlights specific programs such as the Community Paramedicine Program and the RN Reentry Program, both credited with strengthening the local healthcare workforce. The resolution formally commends the organization and directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to SOWEGA-AHEC. It does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose any new requirements.

• Formally commends the Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center for its healthcare workforce development work in southwest Georgia.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the organization.
• Extends the House's best wishes for the organization's continued success.
• Does not create any funding, program, or change to Georgia statutes; it is a symbolic honor only.

The resolution directly names the Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center and its leaders. It also references healthcare providers, students on clinical rotations, and residents of the 38 southwest Georgia counties the organization serves.

The resolution carries no legal force and changes no law, but it publicly recognizes an organization involved in training and retaining healthcare workers in a region of Georgia that relies on programs like this to address provider shortages, especially in primary care.

• The whereas clauses describe SOWEGA-AHEC's mission to improve the number and distribution of healthcare providers across 38 counties in southwest Georgia.
• The whereas clauses cite 2024 statistics, including more than 5,800 participants engaged, 3,898 students recruited, and 1,266 healthcare providers retained.
• The resolution clause commends the organization for its contributions to healthcare workforce development and access to care.
• A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to the organization.

1. 2025-03-04House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-03-04House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-04House Hopper (House)

• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)Primary sponsor
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)
• Joe Campbell (R, HD-171)
• Noel Williams (R, HD-148)
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)

• healthcare workforce
• rural health
• southwest Georgia
• legislative commendation