Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1310: State symbols; cotton as official state fabric; designate
Last action July 1, 2026 · Effective Date
House Bill 1310 designates cotton as Georgia's official state fabric, adding a new section to Georgia law listing state symbols.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law includes a list of official state symbols, and this bill adds cotton to that list as the official state fabric. The bill starts with a set of legislative findings describing cotton's properties, such as its breathability and hypoallergenic qualities, and notes that Georgia farmers grow roughly one million acres of cotton each year across nearly 100 counties, generating more than $3 billion annually for the state's economy. The operative change is short: it adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 50-3-96, to Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50, stating simply that cotton is the official Georgia state fabric. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws, which is standard closing language.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 50-3-96, to Georgia law designating cotton as the official state fabric.
- States legislative findings about cotton's economic role in Georgia, citing about one million acres grown yearly across nearly 100 counties.
- Cites cotton's contribution of over $3 billion annually to Georgia's economy as part of the rationale for the designation.
- Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new designation, standard closing language with no separate substantive effect.
Who it affects
The designation is largely symbolic, so it does not impose new duties or costs on any group. It touches Georgia's cotton farmers and rural agricultural communities, whose industry is highlighted in the bill's findings, and it affects the official list of Georgia state symbols maintained in state law.
Why it matters
The bill does not change any regulations, funding, or requirements; it adds a formal, symbolic recognition of cotton's role in Georgia's history and economy to the state code, similar to other designated state symbols like the state bird or flower.
Key provisions
- Section 1 lists legislative findings about cotton's properties and its economic contribution, including over $3 billion annually and cultivation across nearly 100 of Georgia's 159 counties.
- Section 2 adds new Code section 50-3-96 to Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50, stating that cotton is designated the official Georgia state fabric.
- Section 3 repeals any laws in conflict with the Act, standard boilerplate with no independent substantive effect.
From the bill
“Cotton is designated as the official Georgia state fabric.”
“Around one million acres of cotton is grown in nearly 100 of Georgia's 159 counties every year contributing over $3 billion annually to the economy of this state”
Discussed in meetings (13)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Special Rules Committee, February 24, 2026
From 0:25:18 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1310 would make cotton Georgia’s official fabric, highlighting its economic importance and encouraging attention to natural fibers. The sponsor said Georgia ranks second nationally in cotton production behind Texas and has substantial cotton infrastructure. The sponsor also raised concerns about synthetic clothing releasing microplastics into water and said only 20% of clothing is made from natural fibers. In response to the chair’s question, the sponsor clarified that the designation would not require annual renewal. The committee approved the measure by voice vote for referral to Rules.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:26:46 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1310 would designate cotton as Georgia's official state fabric. The sponsor cited the industry's economic impact and described environmental and health benefits of wearing cotton. No questions or decision followed.
House floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26, PM)
From 4:15:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1745
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented HB 1310 to designate cotton as Georgia's official state fabric. The sponsor said Georgia ranks second to Texas in cotton production, cotton is grown in roughly 95 to 100 counties, and the industry contributes more than $3 billion annually to the state economy. The sponsor also cited cotton's skin-health benefits and the microplastics associated with synthetic fabrics. One member asked about sustainability, and the sponsor agreed with that member's favorable comparison of cotton to synthetics. Another member welcomed attention to toxins in clothing. A further supporting member asked colleagues to respect cotton's painful history for some families while also recognizing its economic benefits, including for Black farmers. The House passed the bill 158-0.
House Rules Committee, March 3, 2026
From 0:04:57 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1743
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee agreed to place HB 1310 on the day's second supplemental calendar under modified structure. The motion was made and seconded, and no opposition was heard. There was no discussion of the bill's contents.
Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee, March 23, 2026
From 0:29:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would designate cotton as Georgia’s official fabric to highlight the industry’s economic importance and concerns about synthetic fabrics and microplastics. The sponsor said Georgia ranked second nationally in cotton production behind Texas, which had already adopted such a designation. After correcting an initial statement, the sponsor said natural fibers accounted for 20% of clothing and synthetics for 80%, and linked synthetic waste to health hazards. Members discussed textile employment and asked about cotton, hemp and polyester. The sponsor described cotton as softer than hemp and said polyester was made from oil. A member questioned whether the proposed code reference conflicted with the preceding heritage-animal measure, and a legislative drafting adviser said no change was needed. Another member expressed hope for greater state investment in cotton. The committee voted to advance the bill without amendment. No vote count was announced.
Senate Rules Committee, March 25, 2026
From 0:36:23 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said HB 1310 would designate cotton as Georgia’s official fabric to recognize its economic impact and what the presenter described as health benefits from wearing cotton. The presenter said Georgia ranked second among states in cotton production. No substantive amendment was offered, and no action on the bill was shown.
Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026
From 1:32:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: A member selected HB 1310 for the floor calendar. No substantive explanation or debate followed. The committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.
Senate floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, part 2)
From 5:23:57 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Taken from Table)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said HB 1310 would designate cotton as Georgia’s official state fabric. There were no substantive questions or debate. The Senate passed the bill, 50–1.
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 17, 2026 (legislative day 19), 0:52:52
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20), 0:35:11
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24), 0:46:38
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27), 0:45:07
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36), 0:31:03
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 430
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
Show full history (17 actions)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)
- Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)
- Steven Meeks (R, HD-178)
- Angie O'Steen (R, HD-169)
- Al Williams (D, HD-168)
- Chas Cannon (R, HD-172)
- Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
Votes
- House voteMarch 3, 2026
158 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 17 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 excused)
- Senate voteApril 2, 2026
50 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 1 excused)
Topics
- state symbols
- cotton
- Georgia agriculture
- state fabric