--- title: HR 1218. Atlanta News First/WANF; outstanding public service in honor of Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1218 cite_as: HR 1218, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1218 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1218.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1218/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72810 date: 2026-02-03 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/hr1217.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1219.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1218.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1218 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-03 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Kim Schofield - Viola Davis - Sandra Scott - Rhonda Burnough text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1218/2025 upstream_id: 2106680 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - severe weather preparedness - local news recognition - emergency management - Georgia House resolutions --- # HR 1218. Atlanta News First/WANF; outstanding public service in honor of Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week; commend ## Text House Resolution 1218 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, and Burnough of the 77th A RESOLUTION Recognizing Atlanta News First/WANF for outstanding public service in honor of Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week is observed annually to encourage residents, families, schools, and businesses to prepare for severe weather events including tornadoes, floods, thunderstorms, and extreme heat; and WHEREAS, timely, accurate, and accessible weather information is essential to protecting lives and property during severe weather emergencies; and WHEREAS, Atlanta News First, also known as WANF, provides critical weather coverage and emergency communications to millions of Georgians through comprehensive forecasting, continuous monitoring, and clear, reliable reporting; and WHEREAS, the meteorology team at Atlanta News First/WANF plays a vital role in educating the public on severe weather risks, emergency preparedness, and response strategies, helping communities make informed and potentially life-saving decisions; and WHEREAS, through advanced forecasting technology, community outreach, and a strong commitment to public service journalism, Atlanta News First/WANF serves as a trusted partner to state and local emergency management agencies and first responders; and WHEREAS, the professionalism, dedication, and service demonstrated by Atlanta News First/WANF exemplify the highest standards of broadcast journalism and contribute significantly to the safety, resilience, and preparedness of communities across the State of Georgia. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend and recognize Atlanta News First/WANF for its outstanding contributions to public safety and preparedness in honor of Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week. 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 Atlanta News First/WANF. ## 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 commends Atlanta News First/WANF for its severe weather coverage and public safety reporting, marking Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes Atlanta News First (WANF) for its weather reporting and emergency communications work during Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week, an annual observance meant to encourage residents, schools, and businesses to prepare for tornadoes, floods, storms, and extreme heat. The resolution praises the station's meteorology team for educating the public on storm risks and preparedness, and credits the outlet with supporting state and local emergency management agencies and first responders. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the station as a formal honor. ### What it does - Formally commends and recognizes Atlanta News First/WANF for its weather coverage and public service journalism. - States the House's view that the station's meteorology team helps educate Georgians on severe weather preparedness and response. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the station. - Does not create any new law, funding, requirement, or penalty; it is a symbolic honor tied to Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names Atlanta News First/WANF and its meteorology team. It references Georgia residents, families, schools, and businesses generally, as well as state and local emergency management agencies and first responders who work with the station. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect; it does not change any Georgia law or agency practice. Its significance is symbolic, publicly honoring a media outlet's role in severe weather safety during an awareness week set aside for that purpose. ### Key provisions - The resolution's preamble ('whereas' clauses) describes Georgia Severe Weather Preparation Week and Atlanta News First/WANF's weather coverage and emergency communications work. - The operative clause has the House of Representatives commend and recognize Atlanta News First/WANF for its contributions to public safety and preparedness. - A further clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to the station. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-03) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-03) - Sponsors: Kim Schofield, Viola Davis, Sandra Scott, Rhonda Burnough - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72810 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1218.md?full=1