--- title: SR 642. Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week; recognize February 7-14, 2026 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr642 cite_as: SR 642, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr642 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr642.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr642/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72577 date: 2026-01-29 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/sr641.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr643.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr642.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 642 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-29 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Elena Parent - Harold Jones - Bo Hatchett - Larry Walker - Chuck Hufstetler - RaShaun Kemp - Nan Orrock - Randy Robertson - Ben Watson - Kenya Wicks - Josh McLaurin - Nabilah Islam Parkes - Randal Mangham - Jaha Howard - Carden Summers - Gail Davenport - Chuck Payne - Frank Ginn - Russ Goodman text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR642/2025 upstream_id: 2100724 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - congenital heart defects - public health awareness - children's health - state capitol resolutions --- # SR 642. Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week; recognize February 7-14, 2026 ## Text Senate Resolution 642 By: Senators Parent of the 44th, Jones II of the 22nd, Hatchett of the 50th, Walker III of the 20th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 7-14, 2026, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, congenital heart defects are one of the most frequently occurring birth defects and a leading cause of deaths related to birth defects worldwide; and WHEREAS, over one million families across America face the challenges and hardships of raising children with congenital heart defects. Each year, approximately 40,000 babies are born in the United States with these conditions; and WHEREAS, some congenital heart defects are not diagnosed until months or years after birth; when these conditions go undiagnosed, they can cause many cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes; and WHEREAS, despite these alarming statistics, newborns and young athletes are still not regularly screened for congenital heart defects; and WHEREAS, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week provides an opportunity for families whose lives have been affected by congenital heart defects to celebrate life, remember the loved ones they have lost, honor dedicated health professionals, and share information with the public and the media. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize February 7-14, 2026, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol. 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 Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program. ## 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 February 7-14, 2026 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol, drawing attention to birth defect screening and affected families. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It designates February 7-14, 2026 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol, citing statistics on how common congenital heart defects are and noting that many go undiagnosed until later in life, sometimes contributing to sudden cardiac death in young athletes. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available for distribution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program. It does not create any new requirement, funding, or screening mandate; it simply expresses the Senate's recognition of the awareness week. ### What it does - Formally recognizes February 7-14, 2026 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the Georgia state capitol. - States legislative findings about the prevalence of congenital heart defects and gaps in newborn and athlete screening. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program. - Creates no new law, funding, or screening requirement; it is a symbolic statement of the Senate. ### Who it affects Families of children with congenital heart defects, health professionals who treat these conditions, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program, and the general public who may see increased awareness efforts during the designated week. ### Why it matters While it carries no legal force, the resolution puts the Senate's attention on a common birth defect that often goes undiagnosed, potentially supporting public awareness campaigns and encouraging conversations about newborn and athlete heart screening in Georgia. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes February 7-14, 2026 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at the state capitol. - A further resolution clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Kids at Heart program. - The whereas clauses cite that about 40,000 babies are born annually in the United States with congenital heart defects and that screening is not routine. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-29) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-01-29) - Sponsors: Elena Parent, Harold Jones, Bo Hatchett, Larry Walker, Chuck Hufstetler, RaShaun Kemp, Nan Orrock, Randy Robertson, Ben Watson, Kenya Wicks, Josh McLaurin, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Randal Mangham, Jaha Howard, Carden Summers, Gail Davenport, Chuck Payne, Frank Ginn, Russ Goodman - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72577 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr642.md?full=1