--- title: HR 1234. Profound Autism Day; March 17, 2026; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1234 cite_as: HR 1234, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1234 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1234.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1234/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72859 date: 2026-02-04 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/hr1233.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1235.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1234.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1234 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-04 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Matthew Gambill - Scott Hilton - Devan Seabaugh - Katie Dempsey - Mitchell Scoggins - Carmen Rice text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1234/2025 upstream_id: 2108210 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - autism awareness - disability support - caregivers - public health - legislative resolutions --- # HR 1234. Profound Autism Day; March 17, 2026; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1234 By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Hilton of the 48th, Seabaugh of the 34th, Dempsey of the 13th, Scoggins of the 14th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing March 17, 2026, as Profound Autism Day; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the definition of autism has evolved over the years, creating an increasingly heterogeneous spectrum, and while all individuals on the autism spectrum deserve recognition and support, profound autism is a term that clarifies the needs of autistic individuals who require 24/7 care from an adult caregiver throughout their lives; and WHEREAS, people with profound autism may also have a severe intellectual disability or have minimal to no language skills, and their unique needs often result in their exclusion from research and support programs; and WHEREAS, in April 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their first prevalence study on profound autism, concluding that 26.7 percent of 8-year-old children with autism in the United States have profound autism, meaning that one in four children with autism falls into this category; and WHEREAS, the study further found that compared with children with non-profound autism, children with profound autism were more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, have self-injurious behaviors, have seizure disorders, and have lower adaptive scores; and WHEREAS, people with profound autism and those who care for them often live in isolation, necessitating greater inclusion and support, and it is imperative to recognize and address their distinct challenges. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize March 17, 2026, as Profound Autism Day. 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 March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day, recognizing individuals with profound autism and the caregivers who support them. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives formally recognizes March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day. It explains that autism covers a wide range of conditions, and 'profound autism' describes people who need round-the-clock care from an adult caregiver for their entire lives, often along with severe intellectual disability or little to no language ability. The resolution cites a 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study finding that about one in four 8-year-olds with autism in the United States have profound autism, and that these children are more likely to be female, from racial or ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm, or have seizure disorders. It states that people with profound autism and their caregivers often live in isolation and need greater support. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the public and press. It does not create any new law, funding, or program. ### What it does - Formally recognizes March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day through a House resolution. - States findings from a 2023 CDC study on the prevalence and characteristics of profound autism among 8-year-old children. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Does not establish any new state program, funding, or legal requirement; it is a symbolic recognition only. ### Who it affects People with profound autism and their families and caregivers are the focus of the resolution's recognition. It also involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is directed to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### Why it matters While the resolution does not change any law or create funding, it gives official state recognition to the specific challenges faced by people with profound autism and their caregivers, which advocates say are often overlooked in broader autism research and support programs. ### Key provisions - The resolution's preamble describes profound autism as affecting individuals who need 24/7 adult care and may have severe intellectual disability or minimal language skills. - It cites an April 2023 CDC study finding that 26.7 percent of 8-year-olds with autism have profound autism, roughly one in four. - It notes the study's finding that profound autism is more common among children who are female, from racial or ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, or who have self-injurious behaviors or seizure disorders. - The resolving clause designates March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-04) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-04) - Sponsors: Matthew Gambill, Scott Hilton, Devan Seabaugh, Katie Dempsey, Mitchell Scoggins, Carmen Rice - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72859 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1234.md?full=1