SR381: SR381 Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month; recognize March 2025

This is a Senate resolution, a formal statement from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes the state code. It recognizes March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month. The resolution states that autoimmune diseases affect more than 50 million Americans, that women make up about 80 percent of those affected, and that Black women face a higher risk of severe cases of lupus and other autoimmune diseases such as sarcoidosis and polymyositis. It says the awareness month is meant to educate the public and healthcare professionals about these diseases and the importance of early detection. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of it to the public and the press. It does not create funding, programs, or legal requirements.

• Formally recognizes March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month in a Georgia Senate resolution.
• States that the Senate acknowledges the disproportionate impact of autoimmune diseases on Black women.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and the press.
• Does not establish any new state program, funding, or legal requirement; it is a symbolic statement.

The resolution speaks broadly to Georgians affected by autoimmune diseases, particularly Black women who it says face higher risk of severe lupus and other autoimmune conditions, as well as healthcare professionals and advocacy organizations focused on autoimmune disease education and research.

While the resolution carries no legal force or funding, it puts the Georgia Senate on record acknowledging health disparities linked to autoimmune diseases among Black women, which can raise public awareness and support ongoing advocacy and education efforts.

• Whereas clauses describe autoimmune diseases as affecting over 50 million Americans and disproportionately impacting women, especially Black women with lupus, sarcoidosis, and polymyositis.
• The resolving clause formally designates March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month and acknowledges the disproportionate impact on Black women.
• A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

1. 2025-03-13Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-03-11Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)Primary sponsor
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)

• autoimmune disease awareness
• women's health
• health disparities
• Black maternal and women's health
• Georgia Senate resolutions