---
title: HR 1737. Perinatal responders; State of Georgia expands the workforce for birth responders who are committed to increasing the safety of families in the childbirth period; honor
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1737
cite_as: HR 1737, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1737
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1737.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1737/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74154
date: 2026-03-16
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/hr1736.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1738.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 134
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1737.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1737
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-16
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Park Cannon
  - Tanya Miller
  - Segun Adeyina
  - Billy Mitchell
  - Akbar Ali
  - Debra Bazemore
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1737/2025
upstream_id: 2134547
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - maternal health
  - doulas
  - childbirth support
  - perinatal care
  - legislative honors
---

# HR 1737. Perinatal responders; State of Georgia expands the workforce for birth responders who are committed to increasing the safety of families in the childbirth period; honor

## Text

House Resolution 1737
By: Representatives Cannon of the 58th, Miller of the 62nd, Adeyina of the 110th, Mitchell of
the 88th, Ali of the 106th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring perinatal responders as the State of Georgia expands the workforce for birth
responders who are committed to increasing the safety of families in the childbirth period;
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, perinatal responders are certified by CAPPA, DONA, BADT and other
agencies; primarily work in rural and underserved areas of Georgia; and can assist families
in births that honor traditional and ancestral linkages; and
WHEREAS, perinatal responders and doulas work during labor, in the birth process, and in
the immediate postpartum time, offering support, encouragement, information, comfort, and
referrals as needed; and
WHEREAS, labor doulas can be found working in the community in private practice, in
cooperatives, as part of groups or agencies, as well as serving in various community
programs such as Morehouse school of medicine's center for maternal health equity; and
WHEREAS, doulas treat family with respect, courtesy, fairness, serving people of any age,
sex, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin,
citizenship, disability, or marital status and uphold federal, state, and local laws, regulations,
or ordinances; and
WHEREAS, perinatal responders including Rhonda Barlow, Shanna Cox, Tracy Woods,
Eden Labbé, Alexis Pitts, Mariah Wall, Imaijah Bernardezruiz, Janiah Collier, Ally
Williams, Tanessa Mcrae, Shaconna Haley, Qai Hinds, Georgette Peterson, LaCresha
Cunningham, Amirah Peters,Asia Hinds, Diana Mendoza, Destiny Saucedo, Trinity Johnson,
Ziah McKinney, Kathryn Kravetz Carr, Kelle Pressley, Za'Kiesha Blanks, Shanelle Hall, Nia
Harper, Robert Saba, Chanel Stryker, and Clintisha Flemming play a vital role in the care of
infants and families in Georgia; and
WHEREAS, organizations such as Tassora Doula and Family Care Services , Georgia Black
Doula Network, The Haven @ Hebron, Wellstar Hospital, Healing InnerG, Doula of the
Divine, LAMIS, NCNW, LAMIS Women's Health Institute, Brown Bosom Babies, LLC,
Harmonia Sanctuary & Services, InnerLight Holistic Doula & Perinatal Consulting, LLC,
Spelman College - LAMIS Women's Health Leadership Institute, GBDN, I'm a Angel 2,
Healing Sacred Scars Foundation, Atlanta resident, BMMA Inc., Fruits of Labor, LAMIS
Women's Health Leadership Institute, Crossroads and Origins nurse-midwives, The Pink
Grasshopper Full Spectrum Doula & Training Services, The Power Of Love Birth Services,
Lamis Women's Health Leadership Institute, EcoFemme Doula, and Lavender Honey Stories
provide families with exceptional care though the birth and postpartum process.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body honor the dedication, hard work, and outstanding care provided by
perinatal responders on behalf of families in the State 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 honors perinatal responders and doulas across the state for their work supporting families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a ceremonial statement from the House of Representatives recognizing perinatal responders, also called doulas, who assist families during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period. The resolution notes that these workers are certified by organizations such as CAPPA, DONA, and BADT, often serve rural and underserved areas of Georgia, and work independently, in cooperatives, or through community programs like Morehouse School of Medicine's center for maternal health equity.
The resolution names dozens of individual perinatal responders and organizations across Georgia that provide doula and birth support services. It formally resolves that the House honors their dedication and care, and directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.

### What it does

- Formally honors perinatal responders and doulas in Georgia for their work supporting families during childbirth and the postpartum period.
- Lists specific individuals and organizations across the state that provide doula and perinatal support services.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute or establish any new program, funding, or requirement.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names and honors individual perinatal responders, doulas, and birth support organizations operating in Georgia, including groups serving rural and underserved communities. It also references institutions like Wellstar Hospital, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine as places where this work occurs.

### Why it matters

Because this is a resolution rather than a law, it does not change anyone's rights, duties, or funding. Its practical effect is symbolic: it publicly recognizes the role doulas and perinatal responders play in Georgia's maternal and infant health landscape.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses describe perinatal responders' certifications (CAPPA, DONA, BADT) and their work during labor, birth, and postpartum recovery.
- The whereas clauses list numerous named individuals and organizations across Georgia involved in doula and birth support work.
- The resolving clause states that the House of Representatives honors the dedication, hard work, and care provided by perinatal responders.
- The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies of the resolution available for public and press distribution.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-16)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-16)
- Sponsors: Park Cannon, Tanya Miller, Segun Adeyina, Billy Mitchell, Akbar Ali, Debra Bazemore
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74154

> The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1737.md?full=1