Rep. Tangie Herring Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Support Students’ Mental Health

ATLANTA - State Representative Tangie Herring (D-Macon) applauds the recent House passage of House Bill 1045, also known as the "You Are Not Alone Awareness Act." Sponsored by Rep. Herring, HB 1045 would require all Georgia public schools issuing student identification badges for grades six through 12 to print the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number on the badges.

"I am so proud of my colleagues in the House for recognizing the urgency of this issue and standing up for our students," said Rep. Herring. "As a teacher, I know that our children face immense pressure. By putting the 988 number on their school IDs, we are making sure a lifeline is always within reach and sending a clear message to every student in Georgia that they are never alone."

HB 1045 would require any local school system or public school that issues student identification badges to students in grades six through 12 to include the following message on badges issued on or after July 1, 2026: "9-8-8-You are not alone. Anyone experiencing a suicidal crisis, emotional distress or challenges with substance abuse should call or text 9-8-8. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year."

This requirement would apply to badges issued on or after July 1, 2026, allowing schools to update text during standard annual printing cycles without a fiscal note. Rep. Herring notes that the bill is designed specifically for middle and high school students to address early onset mental health challenges. Overall, the bill seeks to standardize the presence of crisis resources across all Georgia school districts to ensure no student is left behind.

"This is about building a culture of care in our schools," added Rep. Herring. "I look forward to working with our senators to get this across the finish line and into law so we can start saving lives."

The full text of HB 1045 may be found here. The bill has been sent to the Senate and awaits consideration.

Representative Tangie Herring represents the citizens of District 145, which includes portions of Bibb and Monroe counties. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Code Revision, Economic Development & Tourism and Urban Affairs committees.

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