--- title: SR 53. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr53 cite_as: SR 53, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr53 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr53.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr53/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69561 date: 2025-01-29 status: passed 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. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr52.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr54.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr53.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 53 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-01-29 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Kim Jackson - Sonya Halpern - Harold Jones - Elena Parent - Nikki Merritt - Ed Harbison - Sally Harrell - Emanuel Jones - David Lucas text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR53/2025 upstream_id: 1945127 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - children's hospitals - pediatric healthcare - Atlanta - legislative commendation --- # SR 53. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 53 By: Senators Jackson of the 41st, Halpern of the 39th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 44th, Merritt of the 9th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing Children's Healthcare of Atlanta upon the opening of the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in Georgia serving patients from all 159 counties with a mission to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow as well as offering more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs, top healthcare professionals, and leading research and technology; and WHEREAS, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta operates 789 licensed beds across three hospitals, the Marcus Autism Center, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, eight urgent care centers, and numerous neighborhood locations with more than 14,000 employees, including over 4,400 nurses and 2,300 physicians; and WHEREAS, on September 29, 2024, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta opened the Arthur M. Blank Hospital, a 19-story, 2-million-square-foot state-of-the-art facility with 446 licensed beds, 70 percent of which are dedicated to critical care and specialty services, and it now serves as the only dedicated Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in Georgia; and WHEREAS, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta made history on September 29 when it moved 202 patients using 65 ambulances from Egleston Hospital to the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital in fewer than 12 hours, representing one of the largest single-day pediatric hospital moves in the country; and WHEREAS, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has been ranked as a top pediatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 21 years, with eight specialties ranked in the top 20 and one specialty ranked in the top 10, exemplifying its commitment to excellence in pediatric healthcare. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for its outstanding contributions to pediatric healthcare in Georgia and celebrate the opening of the Arthur M. Blank Hospital, a groundbreaking addition to our state that will provide life changing care to children and families for generations to come. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. ## 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 Senate resolution honors Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for opening the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital, a large pediatric facility in Atlanta, and commends its statewide pediatric care. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a bill that changes any law. It recognizes Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the state's only freestanding pediatric hospital system, for opening the Arthur M. Blank Hospital on September 29, 2024, a 19-story facility with 446 licensed beds that now serves as Georgia's only dedicated Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. The resolution highlights the hospital system's scale, including its 789 licensed beds across three hospitals, more than 14,000 employees, and its top national pediatric rankings. It also notes the logistical feat of moving 202 patients by ambulance from Egleston Hospital to the new facility in under 12 hours. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of it to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta as a formal token of recognition. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for its pediatric healthcare work in Georgia. - Celebrates the September 29, 2024 opening of the Arthur M. Blank Hospital, a new 446-bed pediatric facility. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a commendation rather than a bill amending Georgia code. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, its patients, families, and staff, including nurses and physicians. It has no binding legal effect on any other group, agency, or Georgia resident. ### Why it matters Because this is a commendation rather than a law, it does not change any rights, funding, or regulations. Its practical effect is limited to a formal, public statement from the Georgia Senate honoring the hospital system and its new facility. ### Key provisions - The resolved clause recognizes and commends Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for its contributions to pediatric healthcare in Georgia. - The resolution celebrates the opening of the Arthur M. Blank Hospital as a new addition intended to provide care to children and families. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-01-29) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-01-29) - Sponsors: Kim Jackson, Sonya Halpern, Harold Jones, Elena Parent, Nikki Merritt, Ed Harbison, Sally Harrell, Emanuel Jones, David Lucas - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69561 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr53.md?full=1