---
title: HB 459. Heart Health for All Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb459
cite_as: HB 459, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb459
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb459.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb459/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70337
date: 2025-02-19
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/hb459.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 459
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-13
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Doreen Carter
- Kim Schofield
- Karen Bennett
- Carolyn Hugley
- Marvin Lim
- Michelle Au
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB459/2025
upstream_id: 1970313
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- heart disease
- public health campaigns
- maternal health
- health disparities
- school health education
---
# HB 459. Heart Health for All Act; enact
## Text
House Bill 459
By: Representatives Carter of the 93rd, Schofield of the 63rd, Bennett of the 94th, Hugley of
the 141st, Lim of the 98th, and others
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 a program to increase public awareness of cardiovascular health and
cardiovascular disease; to provide for partnerships and educational materials; to provide for
an annual report; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for
legislative findings and declarations; 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 "Heart Health for All Act."
SECTION 2.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Cardiovascular disease, which includes ischemic heart disease, stroke, congestive heart
failure, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, is the leading cause of death in Georgia,
impacting residents of all ages, races, and genders;
(2) Black and Hispanic women in Georgia experience disproportionate rates of
cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality;
(3) The leading causes of pregnancy related deaths were due to cardiovascular conditions,
and such deaths were largely preventable;
(4) Cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and negative outcomes from heart attacks, are
increasing in younger generations, particularly Generation Z and millennials;
(5) COVID-19 has been associated with many cardiac complications, including cardiac
injury, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure, and the pandemic amplified risks and
worsened outcomes for individuals with cardiovascular disease; and
(6) Therefore, it is in the best interest of the residents of this state to establish a program
focused on raising public awareness of the importance of cardiovascular health and risk
factors, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
SECTION 3.
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:
(1) Develop and implement culturally relevant public awareness campaigns state wide
focused on cardiovascular health and the risk factors, prevention, and treatment of
cardiovascular disease. Such campaigns shall target all ages, races, and genders but shall
prioritize high-risk groups such as younger populations, Black and Hispanic
communities, and women;
(2) Partner with elementary and secondary schools, technical schools, colleges and
universities, and local organizations to educate the youth of this state about
cardiovascular health and cardiovascular disease, including recognizing the symptoms
of heart attacks and strokes; and
(3) Develop and distribute educational materials regarding cardiovascular health and
cardiovascular disease through community centers, healthcare providers, and digital
platforms to maximize outreach.
(b) The department shall support efforts to:
(1) Increase and improve research on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
cardiovascular disease, focusing on maternal health and minority populations; and
(2) Assist community health centers in offering free, discounted, or low-cost
cardiovascular screenings and preventive services.
(c) In implementing the provisions under subsection (b) of this Code section, the
department shall give priority to areas with limited healthcare access and higher
cardiovascular disease mortality rates as determined by the department.
(d) No later than June 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, the department shall prepare and
submit a detailed written report on the implementation and effectiveness of the provisions
of this Code section to the Governor and the General Assembly and shall publish such
report on its public website. Such report shall include:
(1) The effectiveness of the public awareness campaigns, partnerships with schools, and
education materials;
(2) The number and demographics of individuals served through cardiovascular
screenings and preventive services;
(3) Data illustrating the progress in reducing cardiovascular disease mortality rates across
all demographics served; and
(4) Any recommendations to improve awareness, prevention, and outcomes of
cardiovascular disease."
SECTION 4.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 5.
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 459 would direct the Georgia Department of Public Health to run statewide cardiovascular disease awareness campaigns, school partnerships, and screening support, with an annual progress report.
### Plain-language summary
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Georgia, and the bill's findings note that Black and Hispanic women, pregnant women, and younger people face disproportionate risks. House Bill 459, called the "Heart Health for All Act," adds a new section to Georgia's public health code (O.C.G.A. § 31-1-26) directing the Department of Public Health to create public awareness campaigns about heart disease risk factors, prevention, and treatment, prioritizing high-risk groups.
The department would also partner with schools and colleges to teach students about heart attack and stroke symptoms, distribute educational materials through community centers and healthcare providers, and support research and low-cost cardiovascular screenings, especially in underserved areas. Starting no later than June 30, 2026, and every year after, the department must publish a public report on the program's results and effectiveness. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
### What it does
- Creates a new Georgia public health program requiring the Department of Public Health to run statewide cardiovascular disease awareness campaigns targeting high-risk groups.
- Requires the department to partner with elementary, secondary, technical, and higher education institutions to teach students about heart attack and stroke symptoms.
- Directs the department to distribute cardiovascular health educational materials through community centers, healthcare providers, and digital platforms.
- Requires the department to support research on cardiovascular disease and help community health centers offer free or low-cost heart screenings, prioritizing underserved areas.
- Requires an annual public report to the Governor and General Assembly on the program's results, starting by June 30, 2026.
### Who it affects
The Department of Public Health, which runs the new program; public and private schools, colleges, and universities that partner on education efforts; community health centers offering screenings; and Georgia residents, especially Black and Hispanic women, pregnant women, and younger people identified as facing higher cardiovascular disease risk.
### Why it matters
Georgians, particularly high-risk groups like Black and Hispanic women and younger residents, could gain access to more heart disease education, school-based awareness efforts, and low-cost screenings, along with a public yearly accounting of whether these efforts are reducing cardiovascular disease deaths across the state.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 names the bill the 'Heart Health for All Act.'
- Section 2 lists legislative findings on cardiovascular disease's toll in Georgia, including disparities affecting Black and Hispanic women and rising cases among younger generations.
- Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 31-1-26, requiring the department to run awareness campaigns, partner with schools, and distribute educational materials.
- Section 3, subsection (b) requires the department to support cardiovascular research and help community health centers offer free or discounted screenings.
- Section 3, subsection (c) requires prioritizing areas with limited healthcare access and higher cardiovascular mortality rates.
- Section 3, subsection (d) requires an annual report by June 30, 2026 and each year after, covering campaign effectiveness, screening demographics, and mortality data.
- Section 4 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without signature.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-13)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-19)
- Sponsors: Doreen Carter, Kim Schofield, Karen Bennett, Carolyn Hugley, Marvin Lim, Michelle Au
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70337
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb459.md?full=1