Keeping Current @ the Capitol: Week of February 26, 2018

ACTION ALERT: HB 877 - Modified Risk Tobacco (Chad Nimmer, R-Blackshear) A bill to cut the tobacco tax in half for so called "modified risk" tobacco products has passed the House Ways and Means committee and is now in the Rules committee awaiting a vote on the House Floor. Health advocates agree that this is a bad bill because: 1) There is no data to quantify the claim of reduced risk, 2) It will likely create a false sense of safety and actually encourage tobacco use, particularly among minors, and 3) Georgia already has the second lowest tobacco tax in the country.SPECIFIC TO PREGNANCY: Nicotine is an addictive substance that is toxic to reproduction and interferes with fetal brain development. It may also adversely affect fetal lung development and increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). As such, it is best to avoid using e-cigarettes or other nicotine-containing products during pregnancy.Please contact your State Representative and ask them to vote NO on HB 877.

HMHB Honors 3 Legislators with Wilen Award

Read more>

On Wednesday, February 21, 2018, advocates and HMHB members from across Georgia attended Infant Mortality Awareness Day at the Capitol. Thanks to our many partners including: Heart of Georgia Healthy Start, Enterprise Community Healthy Start, Atlanta Healthy Start Initiative, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere and March of Dimes Georgia - we were able to exhibit 1,000 onesies representing each infant death in Georgia during an average year. Attendees spoke with legislators from across Georgia about maternal and infant health priorities.See our One-Pager on Infant Mortality in Georgia>See Photos from the event>