The Georgia Senate passed a bill Thursday that aims to require employers to give breaks to nursing mothers to pump breast milk.

House Bill 1090, authored by Rep. Deborah Silcox, R- Atlanta, and shepherded in the Senate by Sen. Zahra Karinshak, D- Duluth, would require employers to provide adequate time for nursing employees to pump breast milk as well as a place other than a restroom to pump.

“This bill is about being a tough mother. And allowing women to stay in the workforce if they so choose, and express breast milk,” Karinshak said.

Live: Track major Georgia bills and see odds of passing 

The Senate passed a similar bill earlier in the session, Senate Bill 327. 

The bill was inspired by a young Georgia public school teacher who was denied the ability to pump breast milk at work.

Karinshak emphasized that the bill does not place an economic burden on the state.

“There no fiscal impact,” she said. “This is folks operating their business environment per as we should.”

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