2021 HMHBGA Legislative & Policy Agenda
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA) is excited to announce the release of our 2021 Legislative & Policy Agenda. HMHMBGA is dedicated to working with key stakeholders and policymakers to promote sound maternal and infant health policies. During the 2020 legislative session we collaborated with partners and stakeholders, in the midst of the pandemic, to successfully advocate for the following:
- HB 1114 - Allows the Department of Community Health to apply for an 1115 Waiver to extend Pregnancy Medicaid to six months after delivery.
- HB 1090 - Requires employers to provide reasonable break time to an employee who needs breast milk for their nursing child.
- SB 375 - Adds a 7% tax on vaping products and provide penalties for the sale and distribution of vaping and nicotine products for people under the age of 21.
- SB 408 - Extends the sunset date of the Family Care Act, which allows employees use of sick leave for care of immediate family members, to 2023. Also, updated to include provisions and benefits to the unemployment insurance program.
- $3.61 million retained in the state budget for maternal health program funding
To continue the work of improving the health of mothers and babies across Georgia, during the 2021 legislative session we are actively advocating for:
- The extension of pregnancy Medicaid from six months to one year postpartum
- Legislation to protect pregnant and postpartum employees in the workplace and provide appropriate workplace accommodations
- An increase to the state tobacco product excise tax on both tobacco and tobacco alternative products
- The provision of adequate funding to the Department of Public Health's Maternal & Child Health Section
To review our full 2021 legislative & policy agenda click here. For weekly advocacy updates during the legislative session, follow our e-newsletter Keeping Current @ the Capitol.