Georgia General Assembly · Full text

HB 620: State holidays; Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day; designate

Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 11, 2026 · Introduced

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The House Committee on Special Rules offers the following substitute to HB 620:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and observances, so as to designate Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day in Georgia; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The lives of millions of individuals are heavily reliant on life-saving therapies derived from human blood plasma, emphasizing the need for a robust and inclusive blood plasma collection infrastructure;

(2) The United States is home to a vast network of United States Food and Drug Administration licensed blood plasma donation centers, which collectively facilitated over 493 million plasma donations from 2007 to 2021, underscoring the critical role these centers play in supporting healthcare in this country;

(3) Approximately 33 million liters of blood plasma are meticulously fractionated each year, yielding essential therapeutic plasma proteins vital for a wide range of medical treatments, including emergencies related to uncontrollable bleeding, autoimmune disorders, sickle cell disease, and various chronic conditions;

(4) The demand for therapies derived from blood plasma has surged dramatically over the past two decades, driven by advancements in diagnosing rare diseases, elevated standards of patient care, and enhanced patient access to innovative treatments, further highlighting the need for increased representation in blood plasma collection efforts;

(5) Plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) are indispensable in managing urgent health crises tied to bleeding, autoimmune conditions, sickle cell disease, and chronic health issues, and play crucial roles in treating patients with rare and life-threatening illnesses, such as primary immunodeficiencies and hemophilia;

(6) Millions of donations are made annually at blood plasma collection centers throughout the United States, revealing the essential contribution these local collection sites make within the healthcare framework of this country and state and the pressing need for more diverse representation in the industry;

(7) The global blood plasma market has achieved remarkable financial growth, reaching approximately $30 billion in 2022, a significant increase from just over $5 billion in 2000, highlighting the enormous economic potential embedded within the plasma industry;

(8) Sickle cell disease is a chronic, incurable genetic blood disease that disproportionately affects individuals of African descent, with approximately 100,000 people in the United States and over 11,000 people in this state living with the condition;

(9) Sickle cell disease is most prevalent among individuals of African descent, with approximately 90 percent of those affected identifying as such, emphasizing the significant impact of this disease on communities of color;

(10) Therapeutic plasma exchange has been recognized as a potentially useful treatment in resolving complications of sickle cell disease, including acute chest syndrome and hepatic crisis, highlighting the critical need for accessible and inclusive blood plasma collection infrastructure;

(11) Dr. Charles Richard Drew, an African American pioneering figure in modern blood banking and twentieth-century medicine, revolutionized blood plasma donation and storage processes, fundamentally shaping the field as it is known today, and his legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of integration and representation in the medical field; and

(12) Despite the significant contributions of individuals of African descent who comprise over 86 percent of blood plasma donations nation wide, there are currently no plasma collection centers owned by individuals from this demographic in this state, a glaring disparity that underscores the need for awareness to promote a more representative blood plasma industry that reflects the communities it serves.

SECTION 2.

Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and observances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"1-4-28.

February 17 of each year is designated as 'Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day' in Georgia."

SECTION 3.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.