--- title: HR 1007. House of Representatives; effectiveness of arts for health initiatives in improving mental health outcomes; acknowledge collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1007 cite_as: HR 1007, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1007 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1007.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1007/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72149 date: 2026-03-31 status: passed 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. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1006.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1008.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 416 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1007.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1007 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-31 last_action: House Passed/Adopted sponsors: - Todd Jones - Mary Oliver - Kim Schofield - Katie Dempsey - Angie O'Steen - Lydia Glaize text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1007/2025 upstream_id: 2072032 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - mental health - arts and health - veterans health - healthcare workforce - legislative resolutions --- # HR 1007. House of Representatives; effectiveness of arts for health initiatives in improving mental health outcomes; acknowledge ## Text House Resolution 1007 By: Representatives Jones of the 25th, Oliver of the 84th, Schofield of the 63rd, Dempsey of the 13th, O’Steen of the 169th, and others A RESOLUTION Acknowledging the effectiveness of arts for health initiatives in improving mental health outcomes; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the United States is experiencing a mental health crisis, as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation, which found that 90 percent of Americans are facing increased mental health challenges; and WHEREAS, one in five adults over the age of 50 across the country experience a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or both, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; and WHEREAS, the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in Georgia stands at 33.9 percent, outpacing the national rate of 32.3 percent, as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation; and WHEREAS, participation in the arts has been recognized globally as a significant resource for promoting mental health and well-being as well as reducing feelings and experiences of social isolation and loneliness; and WHEREAS, arts for health initiatives have emerged as clinically validated interventions for addressing symptoms of stress, trauma, anxiety, and related mental health concerns; and WHEREAS, arts for health initiatives, as a trauma-informed practice, have been shown to reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), improve emotional regulation, and provide an accessible outlet for individuals and communities; and WHEREAS, the United States Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense have integrated creative arts therapists into treatment programs for PTSD among veterans and military personnel; and WHEREAS, increased access to mental health resources through community-based arts interventions and arts for health initiatives may have benefits for public safety by addressing mental illness and potentially reducing harmful and violent behaviors; and WHEREAS, arts for health initiatives not only support individual mental health but also enhance the well-being of healthcare professionals by fostering creative innovation, reducing burnout, and improving emotional resilience; and WHEREAS, healthcare professionals experiencing improved mental health and well-being are better equipped to provide compassionate, patient-centered care, thereby improving overall healthcare quality and outcomes; and WHEREAS, integrating arts-based practices into healthcare environments can create supportive spaces that mitigate stress and promote collaboration among care teams, ultimately strengthening the healthcare system's capacity to respond to crises and sustain workforce vitality; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to recognize the importance and impact of arts for health initiatives on wellness outcomes for citizens in the State of Georgia and beyond. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body acknowledge the essential role of artists, arts organizations, art therapists, and arts for health initiatives in supporting recovery from trauma, addressing mental health concerns and conditions, building community resilience, and increasing public safety. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution formally acknowledges the role of arts based programs, including art therapy, in improving mental health outcomes and supporting recovery from trauma. ### Plain-language summary This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a statement from the House of Representatives recognizing arts for health initiatives, meaning programs that use artistic activities as part of mental health treatment or support, as helpful tools for addressing stress, anxiety, trauma, and related conditions. The resolution cites data on rising mental health challenges nationally and in Georgia, notes that federal veterans and defense agencies use creative arts therapists to treat PTSD, and states that such programs can also reduce burnout among healthcare workers. It resolves that House members acknowledge the role of artists, arts organizations, art therapists, and these initiatives in supporting trauma recovery, addressing mental health, building community resilience, and increasing public safety. It directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### What it does - Has the Georgia House of Representatives formally acknowledge the role of artists, arts organizations, and art therapists in supporting mental health recovery. - States that arts for health initiatives help address trauma, mental health conditions, and community resilience, and may increase public safety. - Directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new funding, program, agency requirement, or change to Georgia statutes; it is a statement of position, not a law. ### Who it affects Artists, arts organizations, and art therapists operating in Georgia are named and recognized by the resolution. It also references healthcare professionals, veterans, military personnel, and Georgians experiencing mental health challenges, though it creates no binding obligations for any of these groups. ### Why it matters Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia law, it carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It signals House support for arts based mental health approaches, which could inform future funding or policy debates, but it does not itself create programs, spend money, or change any statute. ### Key provisions - The 'whereas' clauses cite Kaiser Family Foundation and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration data on mental health prevalence nationally and in Georgia. - The resolved clause has House members acknowledge the role of artists, arts organizations, art therapists, and arts for health initiatives in trauma recovery, mental health, community resilience, and public safety. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. - The resolution contains no appropriations, deadlines, or enforcement mechanisms. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-31) - Last action: House Passed/Adopted (2026-03-31) - Sponsors: Todd Jones, Mary Oliver, Kim Schofield, Katie Dempsey, Angie O'Steen, Lydia Glaize - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72149 > The history, votes, and amendments (416 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1007.md?full=1