Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 684: American Heart Month; recognize February 2026
Last action February 24, 2026 · Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes February 2026 as American Heart Month and encourages residents to learn CPR and support cardiac emergency preparedness in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution from the Georgia Senate designates February 2026 as American Heart Month at the state capitol. It does not change any Georgia law; instead it lays out statistics about cardiac arrest, including that most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home and that immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival, and it encourages Georgians to learn CPR and support the American Heart Association's 'Nation of Lifesavers' initiative. The resolution asks the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and the press. It carries no funding, penalties, or binding requirements; it is a formal statement of the Senate's position meant to raise public awareness about cardiac arrest response, CPR training, and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes February 2026 as American Heart Month at the Georgia state capitol.
- Encourages Georgia residents to learn CPR and support the American Heart Association's 'Nation of Lifesavers' initiative.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties, since it is a resolution rather than a law.
Who it affects
Georgia residents generally, especially families, since most cardiac arrests happen at home; also schools, workplaces, and public venues encouraged to adopt cardiac emergency response plans and CPR or AED training.
Why it matters
While the resolution changes no law, it publicly highlights survival statistics for cardiac arrest and promotes CPR training and AED access, which could raise awareness and encourage more Georgians to learn lifesaving skills or push for emergency response plans in local institutions.
Key provisions
- The resolving clause recognizes February 2026 as American Heart Month at the state capitol and encourages residents to learn CPR and emergency response.
- The resolution encourages Georgians to join the American Heart Association's 'Nation of Lifesavers' effort to double cardiac arrest survival by 2030.
- A final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available for public and press distribution.
- The whereas clauses cite statistics on cardiac arrest survival rates, CPR usage, and disparities in CPR administration between men and women, providing the resolution's rationale but no operative rules.
From the bill
“immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can double or even triple a person's chance of survival, yet only about 41 percent of people who experience cardiac arrest receive immediate CPR from someone nearby”
“the members of this body recognize February 2026 as American Heart Month at the state capitol and encourage all residents to learn CPR”
Discussed in meetings (5)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 4, 2026
From 0:19:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair explained that the substitute for SR 684 changed a reference from the State of Georgia to the State Capitol, correcting wording that had caused the resolution to be sent to committee. The sponsor said the resolution recognizes American Heart Month and sought approval before the following day's Go Red event at the Capitol, where the American Heart Association would discuss CPR and automated external defibrillators. The committee unanimously recommended passage by substitute.
Senate Rules Committee, February 20, 2026
From 0:11:21 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SR 684, a resolution for the American Heart Association, had been held up by a wording error. The sponsor explained that language referring to recognition throughout Georgia had been changed to recognition at the state Capitol, and said the event had already passed. The committee unanimously approved a motion placing this resolution and SR 744 on a consent calendar.
Status timeline
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-39)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-41)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
- Randal Mangham (D, SD-55)
- Nikki Merritt (D, SD-9)
- Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
- Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-17)
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-40)
- Ben Watson (R, SD-1)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
Votes
- Senate voteFebruary 24, 2026
51 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 1 excused)
Topics
- American Heart Month
- CPR training
- cardiac arrest awareness
- public health
- AED access