About Me
Rep Barnes's Bio
Representative Imani Barnes – Champion for Health, Education, and Equity
Imani Barnes is a Public Health doctoral candidate, biomedical research scientist, youth development coach, and a passionate advocate for families and communities. As the Georgia State Representative for House District 86, she brings a unique blend of lived experience and scientific expertise to the Georgia General Assembly. A proud parent and lifelong DeKalb County resident, Barnes understands the urgent need for inclusive, results-driven leadership that reflects the interests of the district’s diverse families, small businesses, and underserved populations.
Representative Barnes is committed to improving public education, advancing health equity, and uplifting working families. Throughout the legislative session—and year-round—she remains deeply engaged in her responsibilities, always seeking data-informed solutions that better prepare Georgia’s youth for modern life.
One of her cornerstone efforts is ensuring that no child goes hungry at school. She sponsored HB 510 (HB60 2025), the “Healthy Start” Act, which would provide free breakfast and lunch to every public school student in Georgia. Though HB 510 did not pass, her advocacy helped secure $6.3 million in the 2024 and 2025 state budgets—funding over 17 million meals annually for over 70,000 Georgia schoolchildren.
Barnes is also leading the charge in addressing Georgia’s mental health crisis. She introduced HB 109, the Georgia EmPATH Act, which would require the Department of Community Health to establish a grant program for the creation of EmPATH Units—emergency psychiatric assessment, treatment, and healing spaces in hospitals that offer compassionate, evidence-based care for those in crisis.
She also sponsored HB 74, which would expand Medicaid to include coverage for individuals with Lymphedema, and the Healthy Mothers Now Act (HB 149), which aims to reduce Georgia’s maternal mortality rate by expanding postpartum care access, especially in underserved areas.
In addition to these efforts, Representative Barnes passed HR 69, which officially designates the third Thursday in April as Biomedical Research Day in Georgia—recognizing the vital contributions of scientific innovation to public health, education, and the economy.
Barnes currently serves on three House committees:
- Higher Education
- Public and Community Health
- Technology and Infrastructure Innovation
Looking ahead, Barnes is focused on securing more educational funding for Pre-K through 12th grade, expanding mental health and youth engagement programs, improving nutrition access, and addressing Georgia’s maternal health crisis. She believes that with smart investments and inclusive policymaking, Georgia can unlock its full economic and social potential.
Her track record of building coalitions, applying scientific methods to problem-solving, and centering community voices makes her a dynamic force in the legislature. Representative Imani Barnes is not only a voice for District 86—she’s a leader for the future of Georgia.
