SR963: SR963 Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; commend

This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It praises the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center's Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for its work treating premature and medically complex newborns using advanced respiratory support, continuous monitoring, and other interventions. The resolution describes national statistics on premature birth and survival rates, and credits the unit's neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pediatric specialists for improving outcomes and supporting families during stressful hospital stays. It formally commends the unit and its staff and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the medical center for distribution to the NICU.

• Formally commends the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its healthcare staff on behalf of the Georgia Senate.
• States facts about premature birth rates and NICU survival outcomes as justification for the commendation.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the NICU for distribution.
• Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or changes to Georgia law.

The resolution directly names the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, its neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pediatric specialists, and by extension the premature and medically complex newborns and families the unit serves.

The resolution has no legal or financial effect; it is a public recognition. Its practical significance is symbolic, giving the NICU and its staff formal acknowledgment from the Georgia Senate for their work caring for vulnerable newborns.

• The whereas clauses describe the NICU's Level III designation and its role treating premature and medically complex newborns.
• The whereas clauses cite that about 10 percent of U.S. babies are born before 37 weeks and note survival rates near 78 percent for infants born between 22 and 28 weeks of gestation.
• The resolved clause commends the NICU and its healthcare professionals for their service to premature infants in Georgia.
• The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the Wellstar Kennestone NICU.

1. 2026-03-18Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-03-16Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)Primary sponsor
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)

• neonatal care
• hospital recognition
• premature infants
• Wellstar Kennestone
• Georgia Senate resolution