---
title: HR 1194. Martin, Lara S., MA, MPH; exceptional service and leadership in advancing global health, humanitarian response, and human rights; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1194
cite_as: HR 1194, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1194
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1194.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1194/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72757
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
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1195.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1194.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1194
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:
  - Samuel Park
  - Karla Drenner
  - Park Cannon
  - Imani Barnes
  - Marvin Lim
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1194/2025
upstream_id: 2104360
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - legislative commendation
  - global health
  - humanitarian work
  - Georgia House resolution
---

# HR 1194. Martin, Lara S., MA, MPH; exceptional service and leadership in advancing global health, humanitarian response, and human rights; commend

## Text

House Resolution 1194
By: Representatives Park of the 107th, Drenner of the 85th, Cannon of the 58th, Barnes of the
86th, and Lim of the 98th
A RESOLUTION
Commending Lara S. Martin, MA, MPH, for her exceptional service and leadership in
advancing global health, humanitarian response, and human rights; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Lara S. Martin, MA, MPH, is an accomplished global public health, disaster
management, and humanitarian leader with more than 17 years of experience advancing
community-centered programs in complex and resource-limited settings; and
WHEREAS, throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Martin has exemplified compassion,
integrity, and a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable across
the globe; and
WHEREAS, she has managed United States–funded health and nutrition programs in Sudan
and South Sudan, co-led the design of the World Health Organization's first remote
surveillance system in Syria, and co-authored the Inter-Agency Field Manual for
Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Settings (IAFM), a foundational text that continues
to guide lifesaving care for women and families worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Martin also contributed to the chapter on "Health and Human Rights in
Conflict and Emergencies" in Foundations of Global Health and Human Rights, the first
comprehensive textbook integrating human rights and public health frameworks; and
WHEREAS, her career includes leadership roles at Save the Children, the United Methodist
Committee on Relief, the Center for Complex Humanitarian Emergencies at Emory
University, and The Carter Center, where she has built strong partnerships, stewarded donors,
and elevated community voices in every role she has undertaken; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Martin's service extends beyond the global stage to her local community,
where she currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Positive Impact Health
Centers in Atlanta, Georgia, leading efforts to promote health equity and compassionate care
for individuals impacted by HIV; and
WHEREAS, her remarkable achievements are rooted in the values instilled by her parents,
James Lawrence Martin Jr. and Carol Sue Martin, both retired public school teachers, the
latter having served in the classroom for an extraordinary 47 years; and
WHEREAS, Lara S. Martin's professional excellence, humanitarian vision, and devotion to
public service reflect the highest ideals of leadership and love for humanity, making it fitting
and proper that she be appropriately honored for her many contributions to global and
community health.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body commend Lara S. Martin, MA, MPH, for her years of outstanding
service and leadership in advancing public health, humanitarian assistance, and human rights
as well as extend the most sincere best wishes for continued success and fulfillment in all
future endeavors.
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 Lara
S. Martin, MA, MPH.

## 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 commends Lara S. Martin, MA, MPH, for her career in global health, humanitarian response, and human rights work. It carries no legal effect beyond the honor itself.

### Plain-language summary

This is a commendation resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Lara S. Martin, a public health and humanitarian leader with more than 17 years of experience. The resolution recounts her work managing health and nutrition programs in Sudan and South Sudan, her role co-leading the World Health Organization's first remote surveillance system in Syria, and her co-authorship of a field manual on reproductive health in humanitarian settings.
It also notes her leadership roles at organizations including Save the Children, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Emory University's Center for Complex Humanitarian Emergencies, and The Carter Center, plus her current role chairing the board of Positive Impact Health Centers in Atlanta. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to give Martin a copy. It does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose any requirements.

### What it does

- Formally commends Lara S. Martin for her career in global public health, humanitarian response, and human rights work.
- Recites her professional background, including work in Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria and co-authorship of a humanitarian health field manual.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Martin.
- Extends best wishes for her continued success, without creating any legal obligation, funding, or change to state law.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names and honors Lara S. Martin. It has no regulatory or funding effect on other Georgians, agencies, or institutions, though it references organizations such as Positive Impact Health Centers in Atlanta and Emory University where she has worked.

### Why it matters

Commendation resolutions like this one are symbolic recognitions by the Georgia House rather than binding law. Its practical effect is limited to publicly honoring Martin's career and providing her with an official copy of the resolution.

### Key provisions

- The resolved clause has the House of Representatives commend Lara S. Martin for her service in global public health, humanitarian assistance, and human rights.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Martin.
- The bill contains no penalties, funding, definitions, or effective date beyond its adoption as a resolution.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-02)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-02)
- Sponsors: Samuel Park, Karla Drenner, Park Cannon, Imani Barnes, Marvin Lim
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72757

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1194.md?full=1