--- title: HR 1080. Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol; January 29, 2026; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1080 cite_as: HR 1080, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1080 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1080.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1080/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72429 date: 2026-01-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1079.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1081.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1080.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1080 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-27 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Katie Dempsey - Leesa Hagan - Debbie Buckner - Bethany Ballard - Will Wade text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1080/2025 upstream_id: 2095170 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - early childhood - children's health - state capitol recognition - child poverty - pre-k --- # HR 1080. Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol; January 29, 2026; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1080 By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Hagan of the 156th, Buckner of the 137th, Ballard of the 147th, and Wade of the 9th A RESOLUTION Recognizing January 29, 2026, as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, our brains grow faster during the first few years of life than at any later point in our lives; and WHEREAS, nearly 640,000 children under age 5 reside in communities across Georgia, representing the state's future leaders; and WHEREAS, children's early experiences and relationships lay the foundation for future learning, health, and behavior; and WHEREAS, proper nutrition, medical care, and high-quality early education are all essential building blocks for a child's development; and WHEREAS, Georgia has made gains in supporting young children and their families in recent years, including historic investments in Georgia's Lottery-Funded Pre-K, an increased emphasis on early increased emphasis on early childhood mental health, and the creation of a state child tax credit; and WHEREAS, despite this, many of Georgia's families with young children continue to struggle to meet high standards of health, education, and family stability; and WHEREAS, for example, nearly one in five of Georgia's children under age 5 live in poverty, and one in ten of its babies are born with low birthweight; and WHEREAS, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), a nonprofit organization, has brought families from across Georgia to share the joys and challenges of raising young children with Georgia's lawmakers for Strolling Thunder at the state capitol; and WHEREAS, Strolling Thunder emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our youngest learners in public policy-for stronger families, vibrant communities, and a prosperous state; and WHEREAS, Georgia's future begins with babies and all Georgians can help make sure that families have the resources and support they need to give their babies a strong start in life. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize January 29th, 2026, as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution designates January 29, 2026 as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol, honoring an early childhood advocacy event for families with young children. ### Plain-language summary This House resolution recognizes January 29, 2026 as Strolling Thunder Day at the Georgia state capitol. It does not change any law; it is a ceremonial statement by the House of Representatives. The resolution cites statistics about early childhood in Georgia, including that nearly 640,000 children under age 5 live in the state, about one in five live in poverty, and one in ten babies are born with low birthweight. It credits the nonprofit Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS) with organizing Strolling Thunder, an event where families bring young children to the capitol to speak with lawmakers about early childhood issues. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available to the public and the press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes January 29, 2026 as Strolling Thunder Day at the Georgia state capitol. - States the House of Representatives' support for prioritizing young children and families in public policy. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement; it is a symbolic recognition only. ### Who it affects Families with young children who participate in the Strolling Thunder event at the capitol, the nonprofit GEEARS which organizes the event, and members of the Georgia House of Representatives who are asked to recognize the day. It has no direct legal effect on the general public. ### Why it matters The resolution itself changes nothing about state law, funding, or services for children. Its practical effect is to give organized attention and a formal House acknowledgment to early childhood advocacy efforts occurring at the capitol on the designated day. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes January 29, 2026 as Strolling Thunder Day at the Georgia state capitol. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available for public and press distribution. - The whereas clauses cite state data on child poverty, low birthweight, and Georgia's Lottery-Funded Pre-K and child tax credit as background, but create no binding obligations. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-27) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-01-27) - Sponsors: Katie Dempsey, Leesa Hagan, Debbie Buckner, Bethany Ballard, Will Wade - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72429 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1080.md?full=1