--- title: SR 381. Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month; recognize March 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr381 cite_as: SR 381, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr381 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr381.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr381/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71293 date: 2025-03-13 status: introduced 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/sr380.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr382.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 95 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr381.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 381 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-11 last_action: Senate Read and Referred sponsors: - Jason Esteves - Donzella James - RaShaun Kemp - Sonya Halpern - Elena Parent - Sally Harrell text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR381/2025 upstream_id: 2000321 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - autoimmune disease awareness - women's health - health disparities - Black maternal and women's health - Georgia Senate resolutions --- # SR 381. Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month; recognize March 2025 ## Text 25 LC 112 3281 Senate Resolution 381 By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, James of the 28th, Kemp of the 38th, Halpern of the 39th, Parent of the 44th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mista kenly attacks2 healthy cells and tissues, affecting more than 50 million Ameri cans and millions more3 individuals worldwide; and4 WHEREAS, there are over 100 identified autoimmune diseases, man y of which5 disproportionately impact women, who make up approximately 80 p ercent of individuals6 affected; and7 WHEREAS, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) disproportionately affects Black women,8 who are at greater risk of experiencing more severe symptoms an d are three times more9 likely to develop the disease compared to women of other groups; and10 WHEREAS, Black women are also at an increased risk for other au toimmune diseases,11 including sarcoidosis and polymyositis, which can lead to severe health complications; and12 S. R. 381 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3281 WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases contribute to significant health d isparities for Black13 women, resulting in a critical need for increased awareness, research, and access to equitable14 healthcare; and15 WHEREAS, Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month provides an opportunity to educate the16 public and healthcare professionals about autoimmune diseases, their impact on Black17 women, and the importance of early detection and intervention; and18 WHEREAS, supporting organizations dedicated to autoimmune disease advocacy, education,19 and research is essential to improving outcomes for those affected.20 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body21 recognize March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month and acknowledge the22 disproportionate impact of autoimmune diseases on Black women.23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed24 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the25 press.26 S. R. 381 - 2 - ## 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 would recognize March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month, drawing attention to autoimmune diseases and their disproportionate impact on Black women. ### Plain-language summary This is a Senate resolution, a formal statement from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes the state code. It recognizes March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month. The resolution states that autoimmune diseases affect more than 50 million Americans, that women make up about 80 percent of those affected, and that Black women face a higher risk of severe cases of lupus and other autoimmune diseases such as sarcoidosis and polymyositis. It says the awareness month is meant to educate the public and healthcare professionals about these diseases and the importance of early detection. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of it to the public and the press. It does not create funding, programs, or legal requirements. ### What it does - Formally recognizes March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month in a Georgia Senate resolution. - States that the Senate acknowledges the disproportionate impact of autoimmune diseases on Black women. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and the press. - Does not establish any new state program, funding, or legal requirement; it is a symbolic statement. ### Who it affects The resolution speaks broadly to Georgians affected by autoimmune diseases, particularly Black women who it says face higher risk of severe lupus and other autoimmune conditions, as well as healthcare professionals and advocacy organizations focused on autoimmune disease education and research. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal force or funding, it puts the Georgia Senate on record acknowledging health disparities linked to autoimmune diseases among Black women, which can raise public awareness and support ongoing advocacy and education efforts. ### Key provisions - Whereas clauses describe autoimmune diseases as affecting over 50 million Americans and disproportionately impacting women, especially Black women with lupus, sarcoidosis, and polymyositis. - The resolving clause formally designates March 2025 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month and acknowledges the disproportionate impact on Black women. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-03-11) - Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2025-03-13) - Sponsors: Jason Esteves, Donzella James, RaShaun Kemp, Sonya Halpern, Elena Parent, Sally Harrell - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71293 > The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr381.md?full=1