--- title: HR 778. PANDAS Awareness Day at the state capitol; October 9, 2025; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr778 cite_as: HR 778, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr778 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr778.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr778/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71756 date: 2025-03-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/hr777.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr779.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr778.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 778 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-27 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Karen Bennett - Mitchell Scoggins - Carolyn Hugley - Debra Bazemore - Karla Drenner text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR778/2025 upstream_id: 2016179 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - PANDAS awareness - pediatric health - childhood mental health - insurance coverage - medical research --- # HR 778. PANDAS Awareness Day at the state capitol; October 9, 2025; recognize ## Text 25 LC 59 0168 House Resolution 778 By: Representatives Bennett of the 94th, Scoggins of the 14th, Hugley of the 141st, Bazemore of the 69th, and Drenner of the 85th A RESOLUTION Recognizing October 9, 2025, as PANDAS Awareness Day at the state capitol; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and pediatric3 autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS)4 create the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder in chi ldren, causing previously5 healthy and emotionally well-adjusted children to experience severe anxiety and emotional6 disturbances; and7 WHEREAS, children with PANS and PANDAS experience some or all o f the following8 symptoms: tics or other abnormal movements, severe separation anxiety, generalized anxiety,9 irritability, aggression, personality changes, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, marked10 deterioration in learning and school performance, and developmental regression, including11 regression in handwriting; and12 WHEREAS, children with PANS and PANDAS may experience a moderat e to dramatic13 improvement with antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, or14 plasmapheresis; and15 H. R. 778 - 1 - 25 LC 59 0168 WHEREAS, researchers at leading academic institutions are engaged in extensive research16 on the disease mechanism of and effective treatments for these disorders; and17 WHEREAS, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) is developing a pilot clinic to treat18 children with PANS and PANDAS; and19 WHEREAS, the 2019 PANS Study Committee Report of the House of R epresentatives20 identified specific policy goals for Georgia regarding insurance coverage for diagnosis and21 treatment; pediatric provider training in medical, educational, and behavioral health settings;22 and increased public health surveillance of these disorders; and23 WHEREAS, the deep medical and bioscience resources in Georgia m ake our state well24 situated to meaningfully contribute to best medical practices, research, and medical25 technology to advance the early diagnosis and treatment of chil d r e n w i t h P A N S a n d26 PANDAS; and27 WHEREAS, expert providers in the PANS consortium estimate that one in 200 children have28 PANS or PANDAS, meaning these diseases affect roughly 15,000 children in Georgia; and29 WHEREAS, many general pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and pediatric subspecialists are30 not familiar with the most current diagnostic criteria and trea tment guidelines for these31 disorders; and32 WHEREAS, in addition to lack of access to treating providers, many insurers do not cover33 treatment for PANS and PANDAS, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars, placing the34 treatment out of reach for most families; and35 H. R. 778 - 2 - 25 LC 59 0168 WHEREAS, the Southeastern PANS/PANDAS Association (SEPPA) is a Georgia based,36 nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to expert, insurance based care for37 children and families suffering from PANS and PANDAS in this region; and38 WHEREAS, it is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious health issue39 among parents, policymakers, and medical providers in Georgia.40 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that41 the members of this body recognize October 9, 2025, as PANDAS A wareness Day at the42 state capitol.43 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized44 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the45 public and the press.46 H. R. 778 - 3 - ## 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 October 9, 2025, as PANDAS Awareness Day at the state capitol to raise awareness of a rare pediatric neuropsychiatric condition. ### Plain-language summary This resolution addresses PANS and PANDAS, conditions in which children suddenly develop obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms, anxiety, tics, and behavioral changes, sometimes linked to strep infections. The resolution cites estimates that about one in 200 children have these conditions, meaning roughly 15,000 children in Georgia may be affected, and notes that many pediatricians are unfamiliar with current diagnostic and treatment guidelines while many insurers do not cover treatment. The resolution formally recognizes October 9, 2025, as PANDAS Awareness Day at the state capitol. It also directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and the press. The resolution does not create new funding, insurance mandates, or regulations; it is a symbolic statement by the House of Representatives. ### What it does - Formally recognizes October 9, 2025, as PANDAS Awareness Day at the Georgia state capitol. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for public and press distribution. - Cites findings from a 2019 House PANS Study Committee Report about insurance coverage, provider training, and public health surveillance gaps, without enacting new policy. - Creates no new funding, insurance requirements, or legal obligations; it is a commemorative statement rather than a change to Georgia law. ### Who it affects Children with PANS or PANDAS and their families in Georgia, pediatricians and other medical providers who diagnose and treat these conditions, insurers, and organizations such as Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Southeastern PANS/PANDAS Association named in the resolution. ### Why it matters While the resolution makes no legal changes, it puts a spotlight on a condition the text says affects roughly 15,000 Georgia children, many of whom face providers unfamiliar with current treatment guidance and insurers who do not cover costly care, potentially raising public and legislative attention. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe PANS and PANDAS symptoms, estimated prevalence (about one in 200 children, roughly 15,000 in Georgia), and gaps in provider knowledge and insurance coverage. - It references the 2019 PANS Study Committee Report's policy goals on insurance coverage, provider training, and public health surveillance. - The resolving clause designates October 9, 2025, as PANDAS Awareness Day at the state capitol. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-27) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-27) - Sponsors: Karen Bennett, Mitchell Scoggins, Carolyn Hugley, Debra Bazemore, Karla Drenner - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71756 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr778.md?full=1