Georgia CommonsHR 463: Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month; month of March; designate
Last action February 11, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported
A Georgia House resolution would designate March of each year as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month, encouraging public education and awareness activities about autoimmune diseases statewide.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution does not change any Georgia law but instead sets aside March each year as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month in the state. It notes that autoimmune diseases affect many Georgians, especially women and people of color, and that public awareness of these conditions remains low. The resolution encourages state, county, and municipal officials, businesses, and citizens to take part in programs and activities during March that raise awareness and educate people about autoimmune diseases. It also asks the Governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the month and calls on Georgians to observe it. The Clerk of the House is directed to distribute copies of the resolution to the Governor and the public and press.
What the bill does
- Designates March of each year as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month in the State of Georgia.
- Encourages government officials, businesses, and citizens to participate in awareness and education activities about autoimmune diseases during March.
- Respectfully requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation recognizing the month and call on Georgians to observe it.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the Governor and the public and press.
Who it affects
The resolution touches state, county, and municipal government officials and departments, businesses, and the general public, who are encouraged to participate in awareness activities. It also involves the Governor, who is asked to issue an annual proclamation, and people living with autoimmune diseases.
Why it matters
While the resolution creates no new legal requirements or funding, it gives formal state recognition to autoimmune diseases each March, which advocates say can help raise public awareness, encourage earlier detection, and support attention to research and policy on these chronic conditions.
Key provisions
- Paragraph (1) designates March of each year as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month in Georgia.
- Paragraph (2) encourages government bodies, businesses, and citizens to hold awareness and education programs each March.
- Paragraph (3) asks the Governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the month and calls on residents to observe it.
- The closing section directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the Governor, the public, and the press.
From the bill
“Designate March of each year as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month in the State of Georgia”
“autoimmune diseases impact thousands of Georgians each year, disproportionately affecting women and people of color, but awareness and understanding of these diseases remains low”
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Sylvia Baker (D, HD-064)
- Patty Stinson (D, HD-150)
- Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
- Rhonda Taylor (D, HD-092)
- Karen Bennett (D, HD-094)
- Anissa Jones (D, HD-143)
Topics
- autoimmune disease
- health awareness
- public health
- state proclamations