--- title: HR 1171. Georgia Aquarium; 20th Anniversary; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1171 cite_as: HR 1171, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1171 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1171.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1171/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72658 date: 2026-01-29 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/hr1170.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1172.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1171.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1171 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-29 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Ron Stephens - Gerald Greene - Jan Jones - Butch Parrish - Carolyn Hugley - Samuel Park text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1171/2025 upstream_id: 2102356 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Aquarium - legislative resolutions - Atlanta tourism - conservation and education --- # HR 1171. Georgia Aquarium; 20th Anniversary; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1171 By: Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Greene of the 154th, Jones of the 47th, Parrish of the 158th, Hugley of the 141st, and others A RESOLUTION Commending the Georgia Aquarium on its 20th Anniversary; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005 as a philanthropic gift to the city of Atlanta, made possible through the generosity and vision of the late Bernie Marcus, and has since become one of Georgia's most beloved cultural institutions, welcoming millions of guests and inspiring curiosity, stewardship, and a lasting appreciation for the ocean; and WHEREAS, Georgia Aquarium stands as one of the state of Georgia’s most significant tourist attractions, drawing visitors from around the nation and the world and serving as a catalyst for economic development, revitalization, and sustained growth in downtown Atlanta; and WHEREAS, Georgia Aquarium's transformative experiences have reimagined what an aquarium can be, as awe-inspiring habitats and immersive galleries are paired with science-based storytelling so families, students, and visitors of all ages connect deeply with aquatic life and leave with a renewed sense of wonder; and WHEREAS, its profound community impact reaches downtown Atlanta and classrooms across the State, as accessible programs and field experiences strengthen tourism, support local businesses, and expand hands-on STEM learning opportunities for Georgia's students; and WHEREAS, as an animal well-being champion, the aquarium advances best practices through collaborative research and responds to urgent rescues, demonstrating expertise that saves animals and informs conservation worldwide; and WHEREAS, Georgia Aquarium strives to make every experience welcoming and accessible and is designated as a Certified Autism Center and recognized as KultureCity's Sensory Inclusive Venue of the Year; and WHEREAS, the aquarium also runs the Veterans Immersion Program—therapeutic dives for wounded and recovering veterans—now extended to children from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and patients from Shepherd Center, creating restorative, unforgettable connections with marine life; and WHEREAS, as research and conservation experts, the aquarium and its partners conduct and apply cutting-edge science to advance knowledge of threatened species, restore critical habitats, and turn evidence into action for healthier oceans and stronger ecosystems. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body congratulate the Georgia Aquarium on the occasion of its 20th anniversary and commend its enduring leadership in education, animal care, inclusion, and conservation; and that this work enriches the lives of Georgians and elevates Atlanta on the world stage. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Georgia Aquarium. ## 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 formally congratulates the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta on its 20th anniversary, praising its education, conservation, and community programs. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives marking the 20th anniversary of the Georgia Aquarium, which opened in Atlanta in 2005 as a gift from the late Bernie Marcus. The resolution recounts the aquarium's history and highlights its role as a major tourist draw, a source of economic activity in downtown Atlanta, and a hub for STEM education programs for students across the state. It also praises the aquarium's animal research and rescue work, its accessibility efforts including Certified Autism Center status, and its Veterans Immersion Program offering therapeutic dives for veterans and patients from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center. The resolution does not create any new law, funding, or requirement; it simply expresses the House's congratulations and directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Aquarium. ### What it does - Formally congratulates the Georgia Aquarium on its 20th anniversary through a House resolution with no binding legal effect. - Commends the aquarium's work in education, animal care, accessibility, and conservation without creating new programs or funding. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Aquarium. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the Georgia Aquarium and its staff, and references groups it serves such as Georgia students, tourists, veterans through its Veterans Immersion Program, and patients from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center. ### Why it matters The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight; it does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its main effect is an official, public statement of recognition from the state legislature honoring a well known Atlanta institution. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe the aquarium's 2005 opening, its origin as a gift from Bernie Marcus, and its role as a major tourist attraction and economic driver for downtown Atlanta. - The resolved clause has the House of Representatives congratulate the Georgia Aquarium and commend its work in education, animal care, inclusion, and conservation. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Georgia Aquarium. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-29) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-01-29) - Sponsors: Ron Stephens, Gerald Greene, Jan Jones, Butch Parrish, Carolyn Hugley, Samuel Park - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72658 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1171.md?full=1