ATLANTA – State Representative Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) was recently commended by the Georgia United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia (UAPRN) at their recent meeting in Alpharetta, Georgia for his support for House Bill 1046 and Senate Bill 449 enacted in 2024, which seek to improve Georgia’s healthcare workforce.
House Bill 1046 created the Georgia Commission on Maternal & Infant Health, authorizes Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) to sign death certificates and revises the number of APRNs who can be supervised by a physician under a protocol ratio. HB 1046 was sponsored by Rep. David Clark (R-Buford), whose district adjoins Rep. Reeves’ district, and was sponsored in the State Senate by Senator Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett).
Senate Bill 449 enacted Advanced Practice Registered Nurses licenses in the State of Georgia under the supervision of the Georgia Board of Nursing and the Georgia Secretary of State and expedited the licensing process for military medical personnel in Georgia. Senator Larry Walker (R-Perry) sponsored SB 449, and Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) sponsored the bill in the State House.
In addition to these two healthcare workforce laws, Rep. Reeves sponsored the Safer Hospitals Act, which was the Georgia Nurses Association’s legislation of the year in 2023, and the Gwinnett County property tax referendum. This property tax referendum was approved in May of 2024 with almost 75 percent of the vote and included additional property tax relief for hospital employees, such as nurses.
“Nurses care for us in our times of greatest need, and I am honored to fight for our nurses in the Georgia State House,” said Rep. Reeves, who represents Suwanee, Sugar Hill and Duluth in Gwinnett County.
UAPRN is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to healthcare for the citizens of Georgia. UAPRN supports the advancement of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse role by addressing and promoting legislative and practice healthcare issues.
Editor’s note: Rep. Reeves is pictured with Julianna McConnell and Regina Canty, UAPRN representatives from Gwinnett County.
Representative Matt Reeves represents the citizens of District 99, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and Secretary of the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee. He also serves on the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.
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