HR1744: HR1744 Black Maternal Heath Week; April 11-17, 2026; recognize

This resolution does not change any law. It formally recognizes April 11-17, 2026, as Black Maternal Health Week in Georgia, echoing a national observance started by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. The bulk of the text lays out statistics on maternal mortality, focusing on the higher death rates among Black women compared to other groups, both nationally and in Georgia specifically. The resolution cites data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health on maternal and infant mortality rates, Cesarean section rates, and maternity care deserts (areas lacking hospitals or providers offering obstetric care). It also references structural factors like racism, workplace accommodations, and criminal justice treatment of pregnant people. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the public and press, but creates no funding, program, or legal requirement.

• Formally recognizes April 11-17, 2026, as Black Maternal Health Week in the Georgia House of Representatives.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
• Does not create any new law, funding, program, or enforceable requirement; it is a symbolic statement.
• Compiles statistics and stated concerns about racial disparities in maternal mortality and health care access in Georgia and the United States.

The resolution most directly names Black women and birthing persons in Georgia, along with rural and low-income communities, Black midwives and doulas, and pregnant people who are incarcerated. It also references the Georgia Department of Public Health and federal health agencies whose data it cites.

While the resolution changes no laws, it puts on record the Georgia House's formal acknowledgment of racial disparities in maternal death rates and lack of obstetric access in Georgia counties, which could shape future debate over health policy, Medicaid funding, or maternity care access.

• The resolving clause recognizes April 11-17, 2026, as Black Maternal Health Week in Georgia.
• A second resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.
• The whereas clauses cite Georgia-specific statistics: a 2023 maternal mortality rate of 30.4 per 100,000 live births and an infant mortality rate of 7.0 per 1,000 live births.
• The text notes that 36 percent of Georgia counties are maternity care deserts, compared to a 32.6 percent national average.

1. 2026-03-16House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2026-03-16House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-16House Hopper (House)

• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)Primary sponsor
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Dar'shun Kendrick (D, HD-095)

• maternal health
• Black maternal mortality
• reproductive health care
• public health awareness
• health disparities