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House · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session

HB 1045: You Are Not Alone Awareness Act; enact

Last action March 4, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred

House Bill 1045 would require Georgia public schools that issue ID badges to students in grades six through 12 to print the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis hotline number on those badges starting July 1, 2026.

Read the full bill text

These buttons carry the bill's own text, not the summaries below. Copy for LLM, View as markdown, and Send to AI use the Markdown version: the text as filed, then the summaries under a heading that names them as ours. View raw is the text alone.

The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.

In plain language

Georgia law does not currently require student identification badges to carry any crisis hotline information. House Bill 1045, called the 'You Are Not Alone Awareness Act,' changes that by adding a new section to Georgia's education code (O.C.G.A. Title 20). Under the bill, any local school system or public school that issues ID badges to students in grades six through 12 must print a specific message on badges issued on or after July 1, 2026. The message tells students to call or text 9-8-8, the national crisis hotline, if they are experiencing a suicidal crisis, emotional distress, or substance abuse challenges, and notes the hotline operates around the clock every day of the year. Schools that do not issue ID badges to these grades are not required to start doing so; the rule only applies to badges already being issued.

What the bill does

  • Creates a new Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-779.5) requiring specific wording about the 9-8-8 crisis hotline on student ID badges.
  • Applies only to schools and school systems that already issue ID badges to students in grades six through 12.
  • Sets July 1, 2026 as the date after which newly issued badges must include the hotline message.
  • Specifies the exact text schools must print, including hours of availability and the crisis situations covered.

Who it affects

Public middle and high school students in grades six through 12 whose schools issue ID badges, and the local school systems and schools responsible for producing those badges and updating their printing to include the new hotline message.

Why it matters

Students who carry school ID badges would see a reminder about the 9-8-8 crisis hotline every time they use their badge, potentially making it easier for them to recall a resource for suicidal crisis, emotional distress, or substance abuse issues during difficult moments.

Key provisions

  • Section 1 names the bill the 'You Are Not Alone Awareness Act.'
  • Section 2 adds new Code section 20-2-779.5, requiring the 9-8-8 message on ID badges issued on or after July 1, 2026, and applying only to grades six through 12.
  • The required text explicitly states the hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
  • A final repealer clause removes any conflicting existing laws, a standard technical provision.

From the bill

“9-8-8 - You are not alone. Right now, anyone experiencing a suicidal crisis, emotional distress, or challenges with substance abuse should call or text 9-8-8.”

This is the exact message the bill requires schools to print on student ID badges.

Discussed in meetings (6)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

  1. House Education Committee, February 26, 2026

    From 1:12:50 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute promoting the 988 crisis line through student identification badges, describing it as a resource rather than a mandate. The sponsor said nearly 250 Georgians under age 24 died by suicide in 2023 and described students struggling with anxiety and depression without knowing where to turn. The sponsor said the substitute added language directing people experiencing suicidal crises, emotional distress or substance-use challenges to call 988, and reported receiving support from the Georgia School Superintendents Association. Asked whether badges had enough space, the sponsor said the message and number could go on the back, including as a sticker. A member encouraged schools to provide the message in languages appropriate for their students; the sponsor agreed with that goal. Several members supported making help more visible, with one describing the effects of teenage suicide in the member’s district. The chair also described losing a student to suicide at school. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote.

  2. House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026

    From 0:30:20 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1696

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1045 would require public schools issuing student identification badges in grades six through 12 to print the 988 suicide and crisis hotline number on the back. The sponsor said this would give students immediate access to around-the-clock help. No questions or decision followed.

  3. House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026

    From 0:19:29 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1696

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 1045 on Tuesday’s calendar under modified rules. The motion was seconded, no opposition was heard, and there was no discussion of the bill’s contents.

  4. House floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26, PM)

    From 4:27:28 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1750

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1045 would require public schools issuing student identification badges in grades six through 12 to include the 988 crisis hotline and an encouraging message that students are not alone. Drawing on classroom experience and recent student suicides, the sponsor argued that visible, discreet access to help could save lives without adding curriculum requirements or a financial burden. Asked how many schools have badges, the sponsor said most public schools do, but gave no count. The sponsor said schools could choose how to add the information, including stickers, and described the requirement as applying to schools already issuing badges. Another member noted that lunch cards could carry the information. Several members expressed support for the mental-health purpose. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 168-0.

Status timeline

  1. 2026-03-04Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
  2. 2026-03-03House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
  3. 2026-03-03House Third Readers (House)
  4. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
  5. 2026-01-29House Second Readers (House)
  6. 2026-01-28House First Readers (House)
  7. 2026-01-27House Hopper (House)

Sponsors

  • Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)Primary sponsor
  • Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
  • Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
  • Phil Olaleye (D, HD-59)
  • Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
  • Stacey Evans (D, HD-57)

Votes

  1. PassedHouse voteMarch 3, 2026

    168 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 7 excused)

    PASSAGE: House Vote #594

Topics

  • school safety
  • mental health
  • suicide prevention
  • student identification badges
  • 9-8-8 crisis hotline

Ask about this bill

Answers come from this document. Not legal advice.

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HB1045: You Are Not Alone Awareness Act; enact | Georgia Commons