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SR 544

Black Maternal Health Week; recognize April 11-17, 2025

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tonya Anderson and 4 co-sponsors

Designates April 11-17, 2025 as Black Maternal Health Week to raise awareness of disparities and support community-based solutions; non-binding, no funding, copies to public.

Senate Read and Adopted
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Bill Summary · SR 544

Summary — SR 544: Recognize April 11–17, 2025 as Black Maternal Health Week

Status: Senate Read and Adopted (resolution)
Introduced: May 16, 2025
Final Senate action: Read & adopted (recorded May 19, 2025); reported enrolled May 19, 2025
Primary sponsors: Blanco; Kim Jackson; Matt Brass; Harold Jones II; Tonya Anderson; Gail Davenport

Purpose

SR 544 is a legislative resolution recognizing April 11–17, 2025 as "Black Maternal Health Week." Its primary intent is to raise awareness about disparities in maternal and reproductive health affecting Black women and birthing persons, to highlight causes and consequences of higher maternal mortality and morbidity, and to center community-based solutions and voices.

Key provisions

  • Officially recognizes April 11–17, 2025 as Black Maternal Health Week in the Senate.
  • Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.
  • Contains findings and statements of fact (non-binding) about maternal health disparities, including statistical references and factors contributing to elevated risk among Black women.

Findings cited in the resolution (selected)

  • CDC: Black women in the U.S. are 2–3 times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes.
  • 2023 maternal mortality for Black women: 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births.
  • Georgia maternal mortality: 32.1 deaths per 100,000 live births; infant mortality: 7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births.
  • CDC: more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
  • Black women are 50% more likely than other women to deliver premature, low birthweight, or very low birthweight infants.
  • High rates of C-section deliveries in Georgia (35.8% overall; 38.1% among Black infants, 2021–2023).
  • Notes on maternity care deserts, workforce shortages, low Medicaid reimbursement, and barriers faced by Black midwives, doulas, and community-based perinatal workers.

Who is affected / intended audience

  • Symbolically: Black women and birthing persons, maternal health advocates, community-based providers (midwives, doulas), public health stakeholders.
  • Practically: general public and policymakers — the resolution aims to increase awareness and encourage further discussion or action, but imposes no obligations or funding.

Legal and practical impact

  • SR 544 is a ceremonial/resolution measure (non-binding). It does not create programs, appropriate funds, or change law or regulation.
  • Primary effect is awareness-raising and signaling Senate recognition of maternal health disparities and community-based solutions.
  • The Secretary of the Senate is authorized to distribute copies to the public and press.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Entered in the Senate hopper April 2, 2025; read and adopted April 4, 2025 (document records); formally received by Secretary May 16, 2025; read & adopted with vote recorded and reported enrolled on May 19, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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