---
title: SR 191. Black Maternal Health Statistics; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr191
cite_as: SR 191, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr191
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr191.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr191/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70333
date: 2025-02-18
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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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr192.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr191.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 191
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-13
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
  - Kim Jackson
  - Donzella James
  - Kenya Wicks
  - Nikki Merritt
  - Freddie Sims
  - Gail Davenport
  - Tonya Anderson
  - Sonya Halpern
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR191/2025
upstream_id: 1970364
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - maternal health
  - Black maternal mortality
  - healthcare disparities
  - rural hospitals
  - public health
---

# SR 191. Black Maternal Health Statistics; recognize

## Text

Senate Resolution 191
By: Senators Jackson of the 41st, James of the 28th, Wicks of the 34th, Merritt of the 9th,
Sims of the 12th and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing Black maternal health statistics; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the United States has the highest rates of maternal mortality among higher
income countries. There are an estimated 700 to 900 deaths per year in the United States that
are pregnancy related, and another 50,000 persons suffer from severe complications; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80 percent
of pregnancy related deaths in the United States are preventable; and
WHEREAS, in Georgia, four in five pregnancy-related deaths are preventable; and
WHEREAS, health care improvement initiatives are necessary to ensure that all people who
are pregnant or postpartum receive the right care at the right time; and
WHEREAS, the United States has an infant mortality rate that is greater than most
higher-income countries. Currently, the United States is ranked 33 out of 36 countries
belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with
an average of 5.58 deaths per 1,000 live births; and
WHEREAS, racism and racial bias in healthcare systems contribute to both the national
maternal mortality and morbidity crisis and infant mortality and morbidity, in particular for
pregnant and postpartum persons and infants who are Black; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare longstanding racial and socioeconomic
inequities in our healthcare system; and
WHEREAS, one of the essential goals of the state Department of Public Health is to reduce
health and mental health disparities among vulnerable and underserved communities to
achieve health equity throughout Georgia. This essential goal should extend to health equity
for Black birthing people and babies; and
WHEREAS, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy related
causes than non-Hispanic white women, and access to prenatal care, socioeconomic status,
and general physical health do not fully explain the disparity seen in maternal mortality and
morbidity rates among Black individuals; there is a growing body of evidence that Black
persons are often treated unfairly and unequally in the health care system; and
WHEREAS, Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the United States at
almost twice the national rate; and
WHEREAS, in Georgia, Black women are almost three times more likely to die from
pregnancy related causes than non-Hispanic white women; and
WHEREAS, Georgia has experienced a string of hospital labor and delivery closures across
the state, especially in rural areas. In 2019, 93 of the 109 rural counties in Georgia lacked a
hospital labor and delivery unit, and 75 lacked an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN); and
WHEREAS, in Georgia, 34.6 percent of counties are defined as maternity care deserts
compared to 32.6 percent in the United States; and
WHEREAS, chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity,
and diabetes contribute to high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. In Georgia, Black
women have egregious above-average rates of all of these conditions, resulting in high-risk
pregnancies and poor maternal health outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Medicaid coverage for doula care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is
linked to improved maternal and infant health outcomes, as doula-assisted mothers were four
times less likely to have a baby with low birthweight, two times less likely to experience a
birth complication for the mother or infant, and significantly more likely to initiate
breastfeeding; and
WHEREAS, access to quality prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care is essential to
improving maternal health outcomes and reducing preventable maternal death.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize Black maternal health statistics and acknowledge the need for healthcare
improvements to achieve health equity.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate 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 Senate resolution recognizes statistics on Black maternal and infant health outcomes and calls for healthcare improvements to reduce disparities, without creating new laws or funding.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a formal statement from the Senate acknowledging a set of statistics about maternal and infant health, particularly as they affect Black women and babies in Georgia and the United States. The whereas clauses cite figures on pregnancy related deaths, infant mortality, rural hospital closures, maternity care deserts, chronic health conditions, and the benefits of doula care during pregnancy.
The resolution's operative language simply has the Senate recognize these statistics and acknowledge the need for healthcare improvements to achieve health equity. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and the press. It does not appropriate money, create a program, or amend the Official Code of Georgia.

### What it does

- Has the Senate formally recognize statistics on Black maternal and infant health outcomes in Georgia and nationally.
- Acknowledges a stated need for healthcare improvements to achieve health equity, without creating any specific program or funding.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available for public and press distribution.
- Does not amend any Georgia statute, create penalties, or allocate state funding.

### Who it affects

The resolution most directly concerns Black pregnant and postpartum people and their infants in Georgia, along with the state Department of Public Health, rural hospitals and OB/GYN providers, and Medicaid policy discussions around doula care, though it imposes no direct obligations on any of them.

### Why it matters

Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending law, it does not change any rights, funding, or requirements. Its practical effect is to put the Senate's acknowledgment of maternal health disparities on the record, which can shape future legislative debate over healthcare policy.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses cite CDC and OECD data on U.S. and Georgia maternal and infant mortality rates, including that Black women in Georgia are almost three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than non-Hispanic white women.
- Notes that in 2019, 93 of Georgia's 109 rural counties lacked a hospital labor and delivery unit and 75 lacked an OB/GYN.
- States that 34.6 percent of Georgia counties are maternity care deserts, compared to 32.6 percent nationally.
- The resolved clause has the Senate recognize these statistics and acknowledge the need for healthcare improvements to achieve health equity.
- The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2025-02-13)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2025-02-18)
- Sponsors: Kim Jackson, Donzella James, Kenya Wicks, Nikki Merritt, Freddie Sims, Gail Davenport, Tonya Anderson, Sonya Halpern
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70333

> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr191.md?full=1