---
title: HB 17. Public Health, Department of; carry out projects to increase education, awareness, or diagnosis of valvular heart disease; authorize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb17
cite_as: HB 17, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb17
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb17.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb17/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69297
date: 2025-01-15
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb17.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 17
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-01-13
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Kim Schofield
- Viola Davis
- Sandra Scott
- Billy Mitchell
- Derrick Jackson
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB17/2025
upstream_id: 1916699
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- public health
- heart disease
- medical education
- health disparities
- state health programs
---
# HB 17. Public Health, Department of; carry out projects to increase education, awareness, or diagnosis of valvular heart disease; authorize
## Text
House Bill 17
By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, Mitchell of the
88th, and Jackson of the 68th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions regarding health, so as to authorize the Department of Public Health to
implement projects to increase education, public awareness, and diagnosis of valvular heart
disease and to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death caused by valvular heart disease;
to provide for the priority of projects targeting affected populations or addressing health
disparities; to provide for coordination with other state agencies; to provide for the collection
and publishing of data regarding best practices for healthcare providers; to provide for related
matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Valvular Heart Health and Sudden Cardiac
Death Prevention Act."
SECTION 2.
Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions regarding health, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"31-1-26.
(a) The department shall implement projects to increase education on and public awareness
of valvular heart disease, enhance the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease, and
reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death caused by valvular heart disease. Such
projects may be implemented by the department directly or through the award of grants or
contracts to public or nonprofit private entities. The department may provide technical
assistance with respect to the planning, development, and operation of such projects
directly or through such awards.
(b) The projects provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section may include projects
to initiate, increase, or improve:
(1) Education on and public awareness of the risk factors, symptoms, and public health
consequences of valvular heart disease;
(2) Diagnostic capabilities of physicians and other healthcare providers regarding
valvular heart disease and access to treatment for individuals with valvular heart disease;
and
(3) Surveillance programs to analyze and report on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests related
to valvular heart disease to improve patient outcomes.
(c) In awarding grants or contracts for projects pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code
section, the department shall give priority to projects that target populations most impacted
by valvular heart disease or that address health disparities in the risk factors, treatment, and
outcomes of valvular heart disease based on race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic
status.
(d) The department shall ensure that projects implemented pursuant to this Code section
are coordinated, as appropriate, with other state agencies that carry out activities regarding
valvular heart disease.
(e) The department shall:
(1) Collect and analyze the findings of research conducted with respect to valvular heart
disease; and
(2) Publish on the department's public website best practices for physicians and other
healthcare providers who provide care to individuals diagnosed with valvular heart
disease. Such information shall also be annually distributed by the Georgia Composite
Medical Board to all physicians licensed to practice medicine in this state."
SECTION 3.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 17 would let the Georgia Department of Public Health run education, awareness, and diagnosis programs for valvular heart disease and set up ways to track best practices for treating it.
### Plain-language summary
Valvular heart disease, a condition affecting the heart's valves that can lead to sudden cardiac death, currently has no dedicated state program in Georgia focused on public awareness or provider education. House Bill 17, called the 'Valvular Heart Health and Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Act,' would add a new section to Georgia law authorizing the Department of Public Health to create projects that raise public awareness, improve diagnosis, and reduce sudden cardiac deaths linked to the disease.
The department could run these projects itself or fund them through grants or contracts with public or nonprofit groups, and could offer technical help with planning and running them. Projects that reach populations most affected by the disease or that address disparities based on race, ethnicity, gender, or income would get priority. The department would also have to coordinate with other state agencies, collect research findings, and publish best practices online, which the Georgia Composite Medical Board would then distribute annually to all licensed physicians. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
### What it does
- Authorizes the Department of Public Health to create projects for education, awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of valvular heart disease.
- Allows the department to run projects directly or fund them through grants or contracts with public or nonprofit organizations.
- Directs the department to prioritize projects that target populations most affected by the disease or that address health disparities based on race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.
- Requires the department to coordinate its efforts with other state agencies working on valvular heart disease.
- Requires the department to collect research findings and publish best practices for healthcare providers online, with the Georgia Composite Medical Board distributing that information to licensed physicians every year.
### Who it affects
The Department of Public Health, which gains new program authority; public and nonprofit organizations that may receive grants or contracts; physicians and other healthcare providers who would receive annual best-practice information; and Georgians affected by valvular heart disease, particularly populations facing health disparities.
### Why it matters
If enacted, Georgians with or at risk of valvular heart disease could see new state-funded awareness campaigns, better provider training, and improved tracking of cardiac arrest cases tied to the condition. Physicians statewide would begin receiving annually updated best-practice guidance from the Georgia Composite Medical Board.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 names the act the 'Valvular Heart Health and Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Act.'
- Section 2 adds new Code Section 31-1-26, directing the Department of Public Health to implement projects on education, diagnosis, treatment, and sudden cardiac death prevention related to valvular heart disease.
- Subsection (b) lists allowed project types: public education, improving diagnostic capability and treatment access, and surveillance of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
- Subsection (c) requires the department to prioritize grants and contracts for projects targeting affected populations or addressing health disparities.
- Subsection (d) requires coordination with other state agencies on valvular heart disease activities.
- Subsection (e) requires the department to collect research findings and publish best practices online, which the Georgia Composite Medical Board must distribute annually to all licensed physicians.
- Section 3 makes the act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-01-13)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-01-15)
- Sponsors: Kim Schofield, Viola Davis, Sandra Scott, Billy Mitchell, Derrick Jackson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69297
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb17.md?full=1