---
title: HR 1188. Physician's Day at the state capitol; 02/04/26; saluting the physicians of Georgia; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1188
cite_as: HR 1188, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1188
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1188.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1188/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72751
date: 2026-02-02
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/hr1187.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1189.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1188.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1188
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-02
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Mark Newton
  - Lee Hawkins
  - Sharon Cooper
  - Butch Parrish
  - Michelle Au
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1188/2025
upstream_id: 2104321
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Physician's Day
  - Georgia physicians
  - ceremonial resolution
  - medical associations
---

# HR 1188. Physician's Day at the state capitol; 02/04/26; saluting the physicians of Georgia; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 1188
By: Representatives Newton of the 127th, Hawkins of the 27th, Cooper of the 45th, Parrish of
the 158th, and Au of the 50th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 4, 2026, as Physician's Day at the state capitol and saluting the
physicians of Georgia; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the practice of medicine, and its embodiment in the clinical encounter between
a patient and a physician, is fundamentally a moral activity that arises from the imperative
to care for patients and to alleviate suffering; and
WHEREAS, the relationship between a patient and a physician is based on trust, which gives
rise to physicians' ethical responsibility to place patients' welfare above the physician's own
self-interest or obligations to others, to use sound medical judgment on patients' behalf, and
to advocate for their patients' welfare; and
WHEREAS, as of 2023, there are 27,750 physicians in Georgia who are trusted leaders and
have a positive and lasting impact on the health of their patients and the health of their
community as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia legislature has helped foster one of the strongest practice
environments in the country for both patients and physicians; and
WHEREAS, physicians have entered into their profession to offer services of care,
prevention, and surgical intervention when necessary for the physical and mental well-being
of their patients and are concerned with the overall well-being of the public's health; and
WHEREAS, this state recognizes the Medical Association of Georgia, and several specialty
societies including the Medical Association of Atlanta, Hall County Medical Society,
Medical Reserve Corps, Georgia Society of Anesthesiologists, Georgia Society of
Ophthalmology, Georgia Radiological Society, Georgia Orthopedic Society, Georgia
OBGYN Society, Georgia Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Georgia Chapter
of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association, Georgia
Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, American College of Cardiology,
Georgia Society of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Georgia College of Emergency Physicians,
Georgia Society on Interventional Pain Coverage, and Resurgens Orthopedics for their
contributions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize February 4, 2026, as Physician's Day at the state capitol
and saluting the physicians of Georgia.
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 designates February 4, 2026 as Physician's Day at the state capitol, honoring the state's physicians and medical associations.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It recognizes February 4, 2026 as Physician's Day at the state capitol and salutes physicians practicing in Georgia, noting there were 27,750 physicians in the state as of 2023.
The resolution cites the ethical duties physicians have to patients and praises the Medical Association of Georgia and numerous specialty medical societies for their contributions to health care in the state. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and press. It does not create any new statutes, funding, or regulations.

### What it does

- Formally designates February 4, 2026 as Physician's Day at the state capitol.
- States the House of Representatives' recognition and appreciation of Georgia's physicians and their ethical role in patient care.
- Names the Medical Association of Georgia and numerous specialty medical societies for their contributions to the state.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for public and press distribution.

### Who it affects

The resolution primarily affects Georgia physicians and the medical societies named in the text, such as the Medical Association of Georgia and various specialty groups, who are being publicly recognized. It does not impose obligations on the public or other institutions.

### Why it matters

Because this is a ceremonial resolution, it does not change any law, create funding, or impose new requirements. Its practical effect is limited to an official designation and public recognition of physicians, with copies distributed to the public and press.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses describe the ethical and professional role of physicians and cite a figure of 27,750 physicians in Georgia as of 2023.
- The resolution names specific organizations, including the Medical Association of Georgia and over a dozen specialty medical societies, for recognition.
- The resolving clause designates February 4, 2026 as Physician's Day at the state capitol.
- A final clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available to the public and press.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-02)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-02)
- Sponsors: Mark Newton, Lee Hawkins, Sharon Cooper, Butch Parrish, Michelle Au
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72751

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1188.md?full=1