---
title: SR 689. The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium and Cancer Pathways; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr689
cite_as: SR 689, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr689
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr689.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr689/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72779
date: 2026-02-05
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.
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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr688.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr690.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr689.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 689
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-05
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Michael Rhett
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR689/2025
upstream_id: 2106628
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - cervical cancer awareness
  - HPV vaccination
  - public health
  - legislative recognition
  - cancer screening
---

# SR 689. The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium and Cancer Pathways; recognize

## Text

Senate Resolution 689
By: Senator Rhett of the 33rd
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control
Consortium (a program of the Georgia Department of Public Health), and Cancer Pathways
for their exemplary contributions to cervical cancer education and awareness in Georgia; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, January is designated by the United States Congress as Cervical Cancer
Awareness Month; and
WHEREAS, The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium, HPV
Cancer Free GA, and Cancer Pathways are steadfastly committed to advancing HPV
awareness and cervical cancer elimination, prevention, screening, and education throughout
Georgia; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of their impactful work, Sharon J Hill and Demetrius Geiger are
hereby honored as the 2026 Georgia HPV Community Champions; and
WHEREAS, statewide, Georgia's cervical cancer screening (Pap test and/or HPV testing)
rate is estimated around 76.5 percent, slightly below the national median of 77.7 percent,
leaving approximately one in five women unscreened; and
WHEREAS, significant geographical disparities exist within Georgia, including Forsyth,
McIntosh, Towns, and Franklin counties reporting cervical cancer screening rates lower than
60 percent, underscoring inequities in access and outreach; and
WHEREAS, as of 2023, 63 percent of Georgia adolescents (ages 13-17) are "up to date" on
the HPV vaccination series—below the Healthy People 2030 target of 80 percent and lagging
behind the United States average of 77 percent for at least one dose; and
WHEREAS, in Georgia, an estimated 327 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed
annually, with approximately 204 deaths due to the disease each year; and
WHEREAS, cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in the 35-44 age group—the
average United States age at diagnosis is about 50, and nearly 20 percent of cases occur after
age 65. While many guidelines permit cessation of screening after 65 in individuals with a
long history of normal results, those lacking such history should continue appropriate
surveillance; and
WHEREAS, cervical cancer is among the most preventable and treatable cancers due to the
availability of effective screening and early detection; estimates suggest that up to 95 percent
of cervical cancers could be avoided through widespread HPV vaccination, regular
screening, and timely intervention; and
WHEREAS, the HPV-associated cancer rate was 13.7/100,000 persons for both males and
females. This rate is significantly higher than the United States national average of 12.6 per
100,000 persons. Men in Georgia (12.8) have a significantly higher rate of HPV-associated
cancers than the United States average (11.4), and women (14.6) have a significantly higher
rate of HPV-associated cancers than the United States average (13.9); and
WHEREAS, the efforts of The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control
Consortium, and Cancer Pathways have elevated public awareness, improved knowledge of
HPV vaccination and screening, and mobilized community action across Georgia; and
WHEREAS, this year marks the 11th Anniversary of the advocacy efforts that began as The
Susan Jolley Awareness Program and now continues as The Susan Jolley Foundation under
the leadership of President Triana Arnold James.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize and commend the 2026 Georgia HPV Community Champions for their outstanding
leadership, dedication, and impact in promoting cervical cancer prevention and health equity
in Georgia.
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 The Susan Jolley
Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium, HPV Cancer Free GA, and Cancer
Pathways.

## 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 honors The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium, and Cancer Pathways for their work on cervical cancer awareness and names two 2026 Georgia HPV Community Champions.

### Plain-language summary

This Senate resolution recognizes several organizations, The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium (a program of the Georgia Department of Public Health), HPV Cancer Free GA, and Cancer Pathways, for their work raising awareness about HPV and cervical cancer in Georgia. It cites statistics on Georgia's cervical cancer screening rates, HPV vaccination rates among teenagers, and yearly case and death counts to explain why this work matters.
The resolution formally honors Sharon J Hill and Demetrius Geiger as the 2026 Georgia HPV Community Champions for their leadership on cervical cancer prevention and health equity. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the named organizations. A resolution like this does not change any Georgia law; it is a formal statement of recognition by the Senate.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and commends The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium, and Cancer Pathways for cervical cancer education work in Georgia.
- Names Sharon J Hill and Demetrius Geiger as the 2026 Georgia HPV Community Champions.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the named organizations.
- Cites state health statistics on cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination rates, and cancer diagnoses to explain the honor, without creating any new legal requirement.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly names The Susan Jolley Foundation, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium (housed within the Georgia Department of Public Health), HPV Cancer Free GA, Cancer Pathways, and the two named individuals honored as Community Champions. It does not impose duties on the general public or other agencies.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries symbolic and public recognition value rather than legal force. It does not change funding, screening requirements, or vaccination policy, but it publicly highlights disparities in Georgia's cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination rates that the named groups work to address.

### Key provisions

- The preamble cites Georgia's cervical cancer screening rate of about 76.5 percent, below the national median of 77.7 percent.
- Notes that Forsyth, McIntosh, Towns, and Franklin counties report screening rates below 60 percent.
- States that as of 2023 only 63 percent of Georgia adolescents ages 13-17 were up to date on HPV vaccination, below national and Healthy People 2030 targets.
- Cites about 327 new cervical cancer cases and 204 deaths annually in Georgia.
- The resolving clause commends the 2026 Georgia HPV Community Champions, Sharon J Hill and Demetrius Geiger.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the honored organizations.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-05)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-05)
- Sponsors: Michael Rhett
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72779

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr689.md?full=1