Kemp signs AED bill backed by Atlanta Falcons legend Matt Ryan

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April 26th, 2024

A picture of an automated external defibrillator or AED. (Canva)

On Tuesday, April 23, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 874, which mandates automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all public schools. 

HB 874 also requires public schools to implement emergency action plans, establish response teams and conduct regular drills.

The bill includes provisions for funding to ensure that schools without AEDs can acquire them. 

Rep. Lee Hawkins, the bill’s sponsor, underscored the importance of the funding, highlighting the need for comprehensive support to facilitate the legislation’s implementation.

In March, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan joined other Georgia advocates pushing for the passage of HB 874. They emphasized the urgency of ensuring the safety and well-being of Georgia public school students statewide.

Speaking passionately at the State Capitol in March, Ryan shared a personal anecdote from his high school years, recalling the tragic death of a classmate, Louis T. Savino.

“In 2000, [he] passed away on a soccer field from cardiac arrest,” he said. “And I just remember that experience being traumatic, not only for myself, but all the classmates were all scared and so sad for him and his family. But it’s always been something that, as I’ve gotten older, you think about, could it have gone differently?”

Reflecting on the experience, Ryan emphasized the potential difference AEDs could have made in such emergencies, expressing regret over the lack of life-saving equipment during his school days. 

University of Georgia’s associate athletic director, Ron Courson, also spoke along with families who have been affected.

Rep. Hawkins says future funding would be available, including money for buying AEDs for schools that need the equipment. 

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