---
title: HR 8. State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; support creation
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr8
cite_as: HR 8, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr8
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr8.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr8/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69314
date: 2025-01-15
status: introduced
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.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr8.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 8
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-01-13
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
  - Kim Schofield
  - Viola Davis
  - Sandra Scott
  - Billy Mitchell
  - Derrick Jackson
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR8/2025
upstream_id: 1916781
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - chronic disease
  - health disparities
  - minority health
  - rural health
  - public health policy
---

# HR 8. State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; support creation

## Text

House Resolution 8
By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, Mitchell of the
88th, and Jackson of the 68th
A RESOLUTION
Supporting the creation of a State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and
Screenings in Communities of Color; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, disparities in health outcomes are increasingly costly to the state, but are in
large part preventable; and
WHEREAS, people with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory
disease, blood disease, lupus, HIV, and kidney disease, require integrated and coordinated
healthcare services, including diagnosis, treatment, management, and medication, from a
variety of providers; and
WHEREAS, patients with these and other chronic diseases and their families, caregivers, and
employers and the health system experience a disproportionately high economic, clinical, and
social burden; and
WHEREAS, both the maintenance of overall well-being and management of underlying
health conditions are crucial for individuals in high-risk communities; and
WHEREAS, identifying barriers to obtaining chronic disease information and screenings is
a first step toward breaking down these barriers; and
WHEREAS, patients with these and other chronic diseases, particularly patients from
minority populations, were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and are likely to be
disproportionately impacted by any future health crises; and
WHEREAS, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges
that social and economic differences often create health differences in communities of color,
and that public health emergencies can isolate communities of color from necessary
resources; and
WHEREAS, the CDC acknowledges that COVID-19 death rates among
black/African-American persons and Hispanic/Latino persons were substantially higher than
the death rate among other persons; and
WHEREAS, patients in rural communities in this state are particularly challenged in
receiving adequate and appropriate health information and screenings; and
WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to create a workgroup to increase chronic disease
information and screenings in communities of color.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body support:
(1) The creation of a State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and
Screenings in Communities of Color (the Workgroup);
(2) That the Workgroup be created and overseen by the State Office of Rural Health
within the Department of Community Health and the Office of Minority Health within
the Department of Public Health;
(3) That the Workgroup shall focus on the development of projects to increase chronic
disease information and screenings in communities of color, including the use of
telehealth as a means to improve both;
(4) That the Workgroup consider the development of a program for delivery of chronic
disease information, including screening information, concurrent with administration of
vaccinations;
(5) That the Workgroup shall invite, to the extent possible, individuals representing all
demographics of Georgia, and shall include invitations of participation to, at a minimum,
the following members (a member can fill more than one role):
(A) A representative of a patient organization that addresses chronic disease;
(B) A representative from the Medical Association of Georgia;
(C) A nurse educator;
(D) A representative of the Division of Medical Assistance Plans within the
Department of Community Health;
(E) A representative from a faith based organization;
(F) A representative of a healthcare company;
(G) A representative from a federally qualified health center;
(H) A representative from the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion;
(I) A state legislator from a district that has a significant population of minority
constituents;
(J) A representative of a local government consisting of a rural population;
(K) A representative of a local government consisting of an urban population; and
(L) A representative of a Georgia Historically Black College or University; and
(6) That the Workgroup report to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the
Governor on the progress of the Workgroup within nine months of adoption of this
resolution.
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 the
State Office of Rural Health within the Department of Community Health and the Office of
Minority Health within the Department of Public Health.

## 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 supports creating a state workgroup to increase chronic disease information and health screenings in communities of color, including rural areas, and directs it to report back within nine months.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution does not create a new law but expresses the House of Representatives' support for setting up a State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color. The workgroup would be overseen jointly by the State Office of Rural Health within the Department of Community Health and the Office of Minority Health within the Department of Public Health.
The workgroup would focus on projects to improve access to chronic disease information and screenings, including using telehealth and pairing screening information with vaccination visits. The resolution asks that a wide range of people be invited to participate, from patient advocates to medical professionals to representatives of rural and urban local governments and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The workgroup would be asked to report on its progress to the House, Senate, and Governor within nine months of the resolution's adoption.

### What it does

- Expresses House support for creating a State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color.
- Assigns oversight of the workgroup to the State Office of Rural Health and the Office of Minority Health within two state health departments.
- Directs the workgroup to develop projects using telehealth and to consider pairing chronic disease screening information with vaccination administration.
- Lists at least 12 categories of members the workgroup should invite, including patient groups, medical association representatives, nurse educators, faith based organizations, and rural and urban local government representatives.
- Requires the workgroup to report its progress to the House, Senate, and Governor within nine months of the resolution's adoption.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the two overseeing state offices.

### Who it affects

People living with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, especially in communities of color and rural areas; the Department of Community Health and Department of Public Health; medical associations, nurse educators, faith based organizations, federally qualified health centers, local governments, and Georgia's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

### Why it matters

If followed through, the workgroup could shape new state efforts to close health information and screening gaps for chronic diseases in minority and rural communities, potentially affecting how people access diagnosis and treatment resources, though the resolution itself only expresses support rather than mandating funding or action.

### Key provisions

- Paragraph 1 supports creating the Workgroup by name.
- Paragraph 2 places oversight with the State Office of Rural Health (Department of Community Health) and the Office of Minority Health (Department of Public Health).
- Paragraph 3 directs the Workgroup to focus on projects to increase chronic disease information and screenings, including telehealth.
- Paragraph 4 asks the Workgroup to consider delivering chronic disease screening information alongside vaccination administration.
- Paragraph 5 lists at least 12 specific categories of members to invite, such as patient organization representatives, a Medical Association of Georgia representative, and a state legislator from a district with significant minority population.
- Paragraph 6 requires a progress report to the House, Senate, and Governor within nine months of adoption.
- The closing clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to the two overseeing state offices.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2025-01-13)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-01-15)
- Sponsors: Kim Schofield, Viola Davis, Sandra Scott, Billy Mitchell, Derrick Jackson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69314

> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr8.md?full=1