Georgia CommonsSR 844: FSGS Awareness Day; recognize June 9, 2026
Last action February 25, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred
A Georgia Senate resolution would designate June 9, 2026 as FSGS Awareness Day, drawing attention to a rare kidney disease that disproportionately affects Black Georgians and often leads to kidney failure.
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 Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution does not change any law. It formally recognizes June 9, 2026 as FSGS Awareness Day in Georgia, drawing attention to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease that causes scarring in the kidneys and often leads to dialysis or transplant. The resolution cites statistics on FSGS, including that about half of patients need dialysis or a transplant within 5 to 10 years, that it disproportionately affects African Americans due to certain gene variants, and that it costs the healthcare system roughly $2 billion a year. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press, but creates no funding, program, or legal requirement.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes June 9, 2026 as FSGS Awareness Day in the state of Georgia.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Creates no new law, funding, or state program; it is a symbolic statement by the Senate.
Who it affects
Patients diagnosed with FSGS and other rare kidney diseases, their families, nephrology healthcare providers, and advocacy groups like NephCure. The resolution's language also highlights African American Georgians, who face disproportionately higher rates of FSGS due to certain genetic risk factors.
Why it matters
While the resolution carries no legal or funding changes, official recognition can raise public awareness of FSGS, a disease that often goes undiagnosed for years and disproportionately harms Black communities, potentially encouraging earlier diagnosis and support for affected Georgians.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses describe FSGS, its health impacts, diagnostic delays, and its disproportionate effect on African American patients due to APOL1 gene variants.
- The resolved clause formally designates June 9, 2026 as FSGS Awareness Day in Georgia.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.
From the bill
“FSGS disproportionately impacts minority populations, including African Americans, often occurring at a rate 4–5 times higher than white Americans”
“the members of this body recognize June 9, 2026, as FSGS Awareness Day in Georgia”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- John Albers (R, SD-056)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
- Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
- Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
- Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
- Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
- Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
- Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
Topics
- kidney disease
- public health awareness
- rare diseases
- health disparities