--- title: SR 590. Lupus Advocacy Day; recognize February 19, 2026 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr590 cite_as: SR 590, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr590 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr590.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr590/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72333 date: 2026-01-27 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/sr589.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr591.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr590.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 590 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-27 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Gail Davenport text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR590/2025 upstream_id: 2091245 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - lupus awareness - public health - Georgia Medicaid - autoimmune disease - state capitol recognition day --- # SR 590. Lupus Advocacy Day; recognize February 19, 2026 ## Text Senate Resolution 590 By: Senator Davenport of the 17th A RESOLUTION Recognizing Thursday, February 19, 2026, as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, lupus is an acute and chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every organ system in the body; and WHEREAS, lupus can affect any part of the body, including the skin, lungs, heart, kidneys, and brain; and thus, has the potential to cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks, miscarriages, and organ failure; and WHEREAS, at least 1.5 million Americans, including approximately 55,000 Georgians, are currently living with lupus; and WHEREAS, lupus is a major health issue which takes a physical, financial, and emotional toll on many Georgia families that can cause a significant impact on the state's economy; and WHEREAS, the effects of lupus on a family can be devastating in that it is a chronic, lifelong, and life-threatening disease, and despite its prevalence, it remains one of the least recognizable and most misunderstood diseases labeling lupus as the cruel mystery; and WHEREAS, lupus affects primarily young women in their crucial childbearing years, but it can also affect men, children, and women of all ages; and WHEREAS, lupus nephritis, a form of kidney disease, is a serious life-threatening complication of lupus; the need for screening in lupus for lupus nephritis is crucial for early diagnosis and prompt treatment; and WHEREAS, Georgia Medicaid has the opportunity to play a meaningful role in addressing the problem of insufficient screening by emphasizing its importance to patients and healthcare providers; and WHEREAS, by doing so, Georgia Medicaid can help improve patient outcomes and make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by lupus and lupus nephritis; and WHEREAS, the Lupus Foundation of America is the nation's leading nonprofit voluntary health organization, dedicated to finding the causes and a cure for lupus while providing support and services to all people affected by lupus; and WHEREAS, 90 percent of every dollar raised by the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America stays in Georgia to support the chapter's programs; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness was established in 2014 to investigate the level of education and awareness of lupus across the state and has developed a statewide action plan with a multidisciplinary collaborative that will launch lupus initiatives to increase knowledge, educate healthcare providers, consumers and legislators, address early diagnosis, access to care and health disparities in lupus. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend the work of the Lupus Foundation of America and other organizations devoted to finding a cure for lupus and to supporting the individuals and families whose lives are affected by this autoimmune disease and declare Thursday, February 19, 2026, as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol. 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 the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. ## 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 designates Thursday, February 19, 2026, as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol, honoring people affected by lupus and groups working on the disease. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It recognizes February 19, 2026, as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol, citing the toll lupus takes on roughly 55,000 Georgians and their families, and the risks of related complications like lupus nephritis, a form of kidney disease. The resolution praises the Lupus Foundation of America and the Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness for their work on education, early diagnosis, and access to care. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. It does not create new funding, programs, or legal requirements. ### What it does - Declares Thursday, February 19, 2026, as Lupus Advocacy Day at the Georgia state capitol. - Commends the Lupus Foundation of America and other organizations for their work on lupus research and support. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. - Does not establish any new Medicaid screening requirement, funding, or legal mandate despite discussing the issue in its preamble. ### Who it affects The resolution mainly affects the Lupus Foundation of America's Georgia Chapter and the Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness, who are recognized for their advocacy work. It also speaks to the roughly 55,000 Georgians living with lupus and their families, though it creates no direct legal obligations for them. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal force or funding, it gives official Senate recognition to lupus awareness efforts and highlights concerns like insufficient screening for lupus nephritis in Georgia Medicaid, which could draw public or legislative attention to the issue. ### Key provisions - The resolution's preamble describes lupus as a chronic autoimmune disease affecting about 55,000 Georgians and 1.5 million Americans. - It notes lupus nephritis as a serious kidney complication and suggests Georgia Medicaid could improve screening awareness among patients and providers. - The resolving clause commends the Lupus Foundation of America and declares February 19, 2026, as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol. - A final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-01-27) - Sponsors: Gail Davenport - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72333 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr590.md?full=1