---
title: HR 1140. Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol; February 19, 2026; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1140
cite_as: HR 1140, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1140
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1140.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1140/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72560
date: 2026-01-28
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.
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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1139.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1141.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1140.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1140
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-01-28
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Kim Schofield
  - Sandra Scott
  - Viola Davis
  - Regina Lewis-Ward
  - Chris Erwin
  - Joseph Gullett
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1140/2025
upstream_id: 2100476
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - lupus awareness
  - public health
  - Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America
  - state capitol recognition day
---

# HR 1140. Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol; February 19, 2026; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 1140
By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, Lewis-Ward of
the 115th, Erwin of the 32nd, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 19, 2026, as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, on February 19, 2026, Representative Kim Schofield and the Georgia Chapter
of the Lupus Foundation of America will host Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol; and
WHEREAS, lupus is an acute and chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease in which the
immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every
organ system in the body; and
WHEREAS, lupus can affect any part of the body, including the skin, lungs, heart, kidneys,
and brain; and thus, has the potential to cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks, miscarriages,
and organ failure; and
WHEREAS, at least 1.5 million Americans, including approximately 55,000 Georgians, are
currently living with lupus; and
WHEREAS, lupus is a major health issue that has a significant impact on the economy of
this state and takes an immeasurable physical, financial, and emotional toll on many families
in Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the effects of lupus on a family can be devastating in that it is a chronic,
lifelong, and life-threatening disease, and despite its prevalence, it remains one of the least
recognizable and most misunderstood diseases, labeling lupus as the cruel mystery; and
WHEREAS, lupus affects primarily young women in their crucial childbearing years, but it
can also affect men, children, and women of all ages; and
WHEREAS, Lupus Nephritis, a form of kidney disease, is a serious life-threatening
complication of lupus; the need for screening for Lupus Nephritis is crucial for early
diagnosis and prompt treatment; and
WHEREAS, Georgia Medicaid has the opportunity to play a meaningful role in addressing
the problem of insufficient screening by emphasizing its importance to patients and
healthcare providers. By doing so, Georgia Medicaid can help improve patient outcomes and
make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by lupus and Lupus Nephritis; and
WHEREAS, the Lupus Foundation of America is the nation's leading nonprofit voluntary
health organization, dedicated to finding the causes and a cure for lupus while providing
support and services to all people affected by lupus; and
WHEREAS, 90 percent of every dollar raised by the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus
Foundation of America stays in Georgia to support the chapter's programs; and
WHEREAS, the Lupus Foundation of America provides resources for thousands of patients
and families, including support and information, physician referrals, public and professional
education, and grassroots advocacy on the state and federal level; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, Governor Nathan Deal established the Georgia Council on Lupus
Education and Awareness to investigate the level of education and awareness of lupus across
the state; and
WHEREAS, the Council has developed a statewide action plan and established a
multidisciplinary collaborative that will launch lupus initiatives to increase knowledge,
educate healthcare providers, consumers and legislators, address early diagnosis, access to
care and health disparities in lupus.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body commend the work of the Lupus Foundation of America and other
organizations devoted to finding a cure for lupus and to supporting the individuals and
families whose lives are affected by this autoimmune disease and declare February 19, 2026,
as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the
Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America.

## 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 designates February 19, 2026 as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol, honoring the Lupus Foundation of America's Georgia Chapter and its advocacy work.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizes February 19, 2026 as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol, timed to an event hosted by Representative Kim Schofield and the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. It lays out background on lupus, an autoimmune disease that can damage organs throughout the body, and notes that about 55,000 Georgians live with it.
The resolution commends the Lupus Foundation of America and other groups working on lupus research and support, and formally declares the February 19 date as a recognition day. It also directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. The resolution does not create any new law, funding, or program; it is a ceremonial statement by the House.

### What it does

- Declares February 19, 2026 as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol.
- Commends the Lupus Foundation of America and other organizations for their work on lupus research and patient support.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America.
- Does not establish any new funding, screening requirement, or legal obligation despite discussing Medicaid and Lupus Nephritis screening in its background text.

### Who it affects

The resolution primarily recognizes the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America and Georgians living with lupus, an estimated 55,000 people. It also references Georgia Medicaid and healthcare providers in its background discussion, though it imposes no requirements on them.

### Why it matters

The resolution itself carries no legal force or funding change; its main real-world effect is a symbolic recognition and a formal House statement supporting lupus awareness, which may raise public attention to the disease and the advocacy event at the capitol.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses describe lupus as a chronic autoimmune disease affecting roughly 55,000 Georgians and note its disproportionate impact on young women.
- The whereas clauses mention a 2014 Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness established by Governor Nathan Deal to study lupus education and awareness statewide.
- The resolving clause formally declares February 19, 2026 as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol and commends lupus advocacy organizations.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available to the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-01-28)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-01-28)
- Sponsors: Kim Schofield, Sandra Scott, Viola Davis, Regina Lewis-Ward, Chris Erwin, Joseph Gullett
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72560

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1140.md?full=1