Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SR108 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 112 2721
2	2	Senate Resolution 108
3	3	By: Senators James of the 28th, Mangham of the 55th, Rahman of the 5th and Anderson of
4	4	the 43rd
5	5	A RESOLUTION
6	6	Recognizing January 23, 2025, as Doula Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.
7	7	1
8	8	WHEREAS, the Bellies to Babies Foundation has a long-standing reputation for its doula2
9	9	training program and effective maternal health support, improving outcomes for mothers and3
10	10	babies in the State of Georgia; and4
11	11	WHEREAS, obstacles to support in hospitals are a widespread issue, preventing mothers5
12	12	from having full autonomy and partnership in decision-making during childbirth, and the6
13	13	Bellies to Babies Foundation has trained doulas in the community since 2011, contributing7
14	14	to infrastructure changes within hospital systems that have seen decreases in cesarean section8
15	15	rates within a year of patients utilizing services from the foundation's trained doulas; and9
16	16	WHEREAS, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed10
17	17	countries, with at least half of these deaths being preventable; and11
18	18	WHEREAS, peer-reviewed research shows that doulas significantly improve the outcomes12
19	19	of laboring and birthing individuals when they have a supportive role on the birth team; and13
20	20	S. R. 108
21	21	- 1 - 25 LC 112 2721
22	22	WHEREAS, doulas in Georgia, including Berthina Marquez, Nar Sanders, Janisa, Imani
23	23	14
24	24	Gunn, Rara Hill, Wendi Wright, Naima Bond, Rosalee Henry, Destiny Muhammad, Simone,15
25	25	Ziah McKinney, Danielle Lyles Barton, Chi T Mathias, Zakirah Abdul-Hameed, DEricka16
26	26	Smith, Tiffany Bryant, Chanel Stryker, and Corrinna Edwards, are making a meaningful17
27	27	difference through their services, agencies, or advocacy; and18
28	28	WHEREAS, organizations and programs such as Birthin' with Berthina, Guiding Lite LLC19
29	29	Holistic Midwifery & Family Health Services, Doula of the Divine, Morehouse School of20
30	30	Medicine, Wellstar, Mothers Helping Hands Atlanta LLC, Chosen Womb, Divine Hands21
31	31	Agency, ATLdoula and Disability Advocacy, Blooming All Over, Your Divine Doula, Lamis22
32	32	Womb Care, Mamas With Her Wings LLC, the Georgia Community Doula Coalition, and23
33	33	the Bellies to Babies Foundation are well-known for servicing Georgia families and24
34	34	improving birth outcomes for all; and25
35	35	WHEREAS, women of color are more likely to experience discriminatory and inappropriate26
36	36	treatment as well as poorer quality of care; and27
37	37	WHEREAS, Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related28
38	38	causes than their white counterparts; and29
39	39	WHEREAS, there is a shortage of Black healthcare providers, with data from the Association30
40	40	of American Medical Colleges showing that in 2019, only 2.6 percent of doctors and 7.331
41	41	percent of medical students identified as Black or African American; and32
42	42	WHEREAS, the Black infant mortality rate is more than twice as high as the rate for white33
43	43	infants; and34
44	44	S. R. 108
45	45	- 2 - 25 LC 112 2721
46	46	WHEREAS, studies suggest that the mortality disparity between Black and white infants
47	47	35
48	48	decreases when Black infants are treated by Black healthcare providers, and that racism,36
49	49	implicit bias, and lack of cultural competency play major roles in infant and maternal37
50	50	morbidity and mortality; and38
51	51	WHEREAS, Black doulas and doulas of color play an important role in improving birth39
52	52	outcomes for Black families; and40
53	53	WHEREAS, Ziah McKinney, owner of ATLdoula and Disability Advocacy, is a disabled41
54	54	doula who serves the disabled community; more doulas specializing in disability services are42
55	55	needed for Georgia's birthing families; and43
56	56	WHEREAS, there is a particular shortage of maternity care in rural areas, where fewer than44
57	57	half of all rural counties have a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) or baby45
58	58	delivery services; and46
59	59	WHEREAS, the Bellies to Babies Foundation is one of the oldest training programs for47
60	60	Black-led doula businesses and agency owners, continuing to increase the number of48
61	61	entrepreneurs in birth work, including doulas, birth assistants, community health workers,49
62	62	and midwives, with published peer-reviewed research showing that mothers have better50
63	63	experiences when utilizing this level of care and services for their births.51
64	64	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body52
65	65	recognize January 23, 2025, as Doula Day at the state capitol.53
66	66	S. R. 108
67	67	- 3 - 25 LC 112 2721
68	68	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
69	69	54
70	70	to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the55
71	71	press.56
72	72	S. R. 108
73	73	- 4 -