--- title: HR 117. House of Representatives; acknowledge inequality as a public health issue and support BIPOC communities disproportionately affected by systemic barriers collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr117 cite_as: HR 117, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr117 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr117.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr117/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69732 date: 2025-02-04 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. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr116.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr118.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr117.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 117 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-01-30 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Kim Schofield - Rhonda Burnough - Derrick Jackson - Viola Davis - Sandra Scott text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR117/2025 upstream_id: 1949651 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - public health - racial equity - mental health - arts funding - BIPOC communities --- # HR 117. House of Representatives; acknowledge inequality as a public health issue and support BIPOC communities disproportionately affected by systemic barriers ## Text House Resolution 117 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Burnough of the 77th, Jackson of the 68th, Davis of the 87th, and Scott of the 76th A RESOLUTION Acknowledging inequality as a public health issue and supporting BIPOC communities disproportionately affected by systemic barriers; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the United States has historically and systemically disadvantaged racial, ethnic, and religious groups, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), creating inequities in public health and societal outcomes that persist today; and WHEREAS, structural bias manifests in differential access by race to opportunities, resources, conditions, and power within the country's medical, educational, and public health systems, disproportionately impacting BIPOC communities; and WHEREAS, BIPOC individuals face disproportionately high rates of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke, largely due to the cumulative effects of systemic inequities, stress, and barriers to equitable care; and WHEREAS, the trauma associated with systemic inequities extends beyond physical health, profoundly impacting mental health and well-being for BIPOC communities, as evidenced by increased rates of stress-related disorders, depression, anxiety, and exposure to community violence; and WHEREAS, the arts have been recognized globally as a powerful tool to promote healing, resilience, and mental well-being, with art therapy emerging as a clinically validated intervention for addressing trauma, stress, and mental health disparities in BIPOC populations; and WHEREAS, creative expression through the arts provides an accessible and culturally resonant way to process grief, pain, and systemic injustice, fostering community connections and individual empowerment for BIPOC communities; and WHEREAS, art therapy, as a trauma-informed practice, has shown effectiveness in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), improving emotional regulation, and providing an outlet for individuals and communities disproportionately affected by systemic inequities; and WHEREAS, mental health is a critical component of public health, and addressing inequity as a public health crisis must include integrative approaches like the arts to mitigate the long-term impacts of trauma on BIPOC communities; and WHEREAS, public health organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, and others have declared inequity a public health issue and emphasized the importance of innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to address its impacts on BIPOC populations; and WHEREAS, prioritizing investments in arts and health initiatives will amplify the state's efforts to reduce disparities in health outcomes, particularly for BIPOC communities historically marginalized due to systemic inequities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body acknowledge systemic inequity as a public health crisis in the State of Georgia, particularly its impact on BIPOC communities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body recognize the essential role of arts and art therapy as medicine to heal trauma, address mental health disparities, and build community resilience in response to systemic inequities affecting BIPOC individuals and communities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body advocate for the integration of arts-based solutions into public health policies and programs addressing racial and systemic disparities in health and mental health outcomes, particularly for BIPOC populations. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body encourage funding for community arts initiatives and art therapy programs, particularly in schools, healthcare settings, and community organizations that serve BIPOC populations and other marginalized communities. 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 Commissioner of Health, the Attorney General, and other relevant stakeholders in public health and the arts. ## 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 would formally recognize systemic inequity as a public health crisis affecting BIPOC communities and voice support for arts and art therapy programs as part of the response. ### Plain-language summary This is a resolution, not a law, from the Georgia House of Representatives. It states the House's position that systemic inequity is a public health crisis in Georgia, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, citing disparities in chronic disease, mental health, and trauma. The resolution does not create any new program, requirement, or funding by itself. Instead it has the House go on record recognizing arts and art therapy as tools for healing trauma and mental health disparities, encouraging state policymakers to integrate arts-based approaches into public health policy, and encouraging funding for community arts and art therapy programs in schools, health care settings, and community organizations. It directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to the Commissioner of Health, the Attorney General, and other stakeholders. ### What it does - Declares that the Georgia House of Representatives acknowledges systemic inequity as a public health crisis in Georgia, particularly for BIPOC communities. - States the House's recognition of arts and art therapy as tools to address trauma and mental health disparities tied to systemic inequities. - Expresses House support for integrating arts-based approaches into public health policies and programs addressing racial and systemic health disparities. - Encourages, without mandating or funding, support for community arts initiatives and art therapy programs in schools, health care settings, and community organizations serving BIPOC and other marginalized populations. - Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the Commissioner of Health, the Attorney General, and other relevant stakeholders. ### Who it affects The resolution speaks to BIPOC communities in Georgia and references schools, health care settings, and community organizations that serve them. It also names the Commissioner of Health and the Attorney General as recipients, though it imposes no legal duties on them. ### Why it matters Because this is a resolution rather than a bill that changes law, it creates no new funding, program, or legal requirement. Its practical effect is to put the House on record supporting arts-based approaches to health disparities, which could inform future legislation or budget requests but does not itself change anything. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe disparities in chronic disease and mental health outcomes affecting BIPOC communities and cite art therapy as a validated intervention for trauma. - The first resolving clause has the House acknowledge systemic inequity as a public health crisis in Georgia. - A further resolving clause recognizes arts and art therapy as tools for healing trauma and building community resilience. - A further resolving clause has the House advocate for integrating arts-based solutions into public health policy, without creating a binding mandate. - A further resolving clause encourages funding for community arts and art therapy programs in schools, health care, and community organizations. - The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the Commissioner of Health, the Attorney General, and other stakeholders. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-01-30) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-04) - Sponsors: Kim Schofield, Rhonda Burnough, Derrick Jackson, Viola Davis, Sandra Scott - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69732 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr117.md?full=1