HR 619: Minority Health Month; April 2025; encourage cholesterol screening; recognize

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally recognizes April 2025 as Minority Health Month in Georgia and encourages residents to get their cholesterol screened, particularly focusing on cardiovascular disease's outsized effect on racial and ethnic minority populations. The resolution cites statistics from the CDC, the American Heart Association, and academic journals showing that heart disease is the leading cause of death among minority groups in the United States, that cardiovascular disease causes over 22,000 deaths in Georgia annually, and that many people with high cholesterol are unaware of it. It urges the Georgia Department of Health to update the state's cardiovascular plan and run cholesterol screening campaigns in April, and urges health care providers to follow American College of Cardiology treatment guidelines. It directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Formally recognizes April 2025 as Minority Health Month in Georgia to encourage cholesterol screening.
• Urges the Georgia Department of Health to update the state's cardiovascular plan and launch cholesterol screening campaigns during April.
• Urges healthcare providers to treat cardiovascular disease patients according to American College of Cardiology treatment guidelines.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

The resolution primarily concerns Georgians affected by cardiovascular disease, especially Black and Hispanic residents who the text says face higher rates of heart disease and high cholesterol. It also addresses the Georgia Department of Health and healthcare providers who treat cardiovascular disease patients.

While the resolution creates no binding legal requirement, it puts state attention on cholesterol screening and cardiovascular disease disparities affecting minority Georgians, and encourages the Department of Health and providers to take specific voluntary steps like updating the state cardiovascular plan and following treatment guidelines.

• The resolving clause recognizes April 2025 as Minority Health Month to encourage cholesterol screening.
• The resolution urges the Georgia Department of Health to update the state's cardiovascular plan to improve outcomes for cardiovascular disease patients.
• It urges the Department of Health to develop campaigns increasing cholesterol screening specifically during April.
• It urges healthcare providers to treat cardiovascular disease patients according to American College of Cardiology treatment guidelines.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2025-03-18House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-03-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-18House Hopper (House)

• Karen Bennett (D, HD-94)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Debra Bazemore (D, HD-69)
• Doreen Carter (D, HD-93)
• Kimberly Alexander (D, HD-66)
• Rhonda Taylor (D, HD-92)

• minority health
• cholesterol screening
• cardiovascular disease
• public health awareness