Ballotpedia: Imani Barnes

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Imani earned a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from South Carolina State University and a master's degree in public health. She is currently a doctoral candidate for public health at Walden University. 

Imani has experience as a youth development coach and has been involved in partnerships to facilitate youth development. 

Imani Barnes was elected as the State Representative in State House District 86 in 2022 and has served one term in this position. 

Opposes Senate Bill 354 which allows beauty shops/salons and barber shops to employ individuals without a Cosmetology license to do the following: Wash, shampoo, comb, brush, blow-dry, and apply cosmetics.

- Opposes Senate Bill 354 which allows beauty shops/salons and barber shops to employ individuals without a Cosmetology license to do the following: Wash, shampoo, comb, brush, blow-dry, and apply cosmetics.

Economy

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "Mitigating environmental inequities in our community"

Supports urgent environmental action, aims to leave a better world for future generations, and advocates for legislation to enhance Georgia's environmental safety. Plans to integrate social justice with environmental protection, ensuring equitable access to clean water and air for all Georgians.

Supports urgent environmental action and wants to implement legislation to enhance Georgia's environmental safety. Plans to integrate social justice with environmental protection, with a focus on access to clean water and air for all Georgians.

- Supports urgent environmental action and wants to implement legislation to enhance Georgia's environmental safety. Plans to integrate social justice with environmental protection, with a focus on access to clean water and air for all Georgians.

Energy & the Environment

The candidate's website says, "To provide for Medicaid coverage for the prevention and treatment of lymphedema"

Said, "I strongly defend a woman’s right to choose. I also support the expansion of services to help parents raise strong healthy well educated children."

The candidate's website says, "HB 74 Social services; Medicaid coverage for prevention and treatment of lymphedema"

Said, "I support the work of Stacey Abrams to expand Medicaid to all qualified Georgians. As she says “Medicaid expansion will provide healthcare for 500,000+ Georgians and create 60,000+ Georgia jobs”."

Supports expanding Medicaid and supports the work of Stacey Abrams to "provide healthcare for 500,000+ Georgians and create 60,000+ Georgia jobs."

The candidate's website says, "Representative Barnes... works to expand Medicaid thus providing healthcare for more Georgians as she sponsored HB74 that would provide Lymphedema coverage under Medicaid."

The candidate's website says, "Representative Barnes...sponsored [House Bill] 74 that would provide Lymphedema coverage under Medicaid."

Wrote the "EmPath GA Act," a mental health bill to add psychiatric emergency rooms to Georgia hospitals.

- Supports expanding Medicaid and supports the work of Stacey Abrams to "provide healthcare for 500,000+ Georgians and create 60,000+ Georgia jobs."
- The candidate's website says, "Representative Barnes...sponsored [House Bill] 74 that would provide Lymphedema coverage under Medicaid."
- Supports abortion.
- Wrote the "EmPath GA Act," a mental health bill to add psychiatric emergency rooms to Georgia hospitals.

Healthcare

As of June 15, 2025, Imani Barnes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund: Imani Barnes

Barnes is a woman of color and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She is endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.

- Barnes is a woman of color and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She is endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.

Public Safety

The candidate's website says, "One major effort is to provide free breakfast and lunch for students in Georgia's public schools. She sponsored HB510, the “Healthy Start” bill that would provide free school meals to all students in the state."

The candidate's website says, "Along with her Democratic colleagues and Republicans from rural areas, Rep. Barnes fought against the use of school vouchers that take money away from our public schools...and won."

The candidate's website says, "Representative Barnes works tirelessly on issues to improve and protect public schools and students to better prepare the young people for modern life."

The candidate's website says, "HB 510 "Healthy Start" Education; breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students"

The candidate's website says, "HB 527 Quality Basic Education Act; inclusion of certain visual safety devices in minimum facility"

Supports free breakfast and lunch for eligible public school students, funding under the Quality Basic Education Act, and the promotion of Georgia-grown products in these programs.

Plans to increase funding for public schools, particularly in impoverished areas, to narrow the education gap, raise teacher salaries, and ensure public funds remain in Georgia's public schools.

The candidate's website says, "To provide for grants by the State Board of Education to local units of administration to support students living in poverty (Foster, Migrant, impoverished, homeless youth)."

Wants to "Provide...grants by the State Board of Education to local units of administration to support students living in poverty (Foster, Migrant, impoverished, homeless youth)."

The candidate's website says, "The “Safe Teens Act,” that would authorize local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to offer driver education as an elective course."

Supports "The “Safe Teens Act,” that would authorize local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to offer driver education as an elective course."

The candidate's website says, "Relating to common minimum facility requirements for public elementary and secondary schools under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for the inclusion of certain visual safety devices in minimum facility requirements"

Wants to implement "Common minimum facility requirements for public elementary and secondary schools under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for the inclusion of certain visual safety devices in minimum facility requirements"

Supports increased pre-K-12 educational funding for children's activities, mental health, and nutrition; advocates for affordable housing to address the high cost of living. Recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion for the state's future.

Supports increased pre-K-12 educational funding for children's activities, mental health, and nutrition.

Opposes Senate Billl 390 which would remove the American Library Association’s control over our Georgia libraries.

- Supports free breakfast and lunch for eligible public school students, funding under the Quality Basic Education Act, and the promotion of Georgia-grown products in these programs.
- Plans to increase funding for public schools, particularly in impoverished areas, to narrow the education gap, raise teacher salaries, and ensure public funds remain in Georgia's public schools.
- Wants to "Provide...grants by the State Board of Education to local units of administration to support students living in poverty (Foster, Migrant, impoverished, homeless youth)."
- Supports "The “Safe Teens Act,” that would authorize local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to offer driver education as an elective course."
- Wants to implement "Common minimum facility requirements for public elementary and secondary schools under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for the inclusion of certain visual safety devices in minimum facility requirements"
- Supports increased pre-K-12 educational funding for children's activities, mental health, and nutrition.
- Opposes Senate Billl 390 which would remove the American Library Association’s control over our Georgia libraries.

Education

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Imani Barnes

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Georgia State House of Representatives.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. All bills dealing with the state budget originate in the Georgia House of Representatives.
- The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 180 members of the Georgia House of Representatives, each representing a single district.
- State Representatives are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342. They only serve in the role part-time.