--- title: HR 1246. National Canned Food Month in the State of Georgia; February; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1246 cite_as: HR 1246, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1246 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1246.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1246/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72905 date: 2026-02-09 status: introduced 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/hr1245.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1247.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1246.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1246 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-05 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Sylvia Baker - Imani Barnes - Demetrius Douglas - Derrick McCollum - Akbar Ali text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1246/2025 upstream_id: 2110000 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - food insecurity - canned food month - charitable giving - food banks --- # HR 1246. National Canned Food Month in the State of Georgia; February; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1246 By: Representatives Baker of the 64th, Barnes of the 86th, Douglas of the 78th, McCollum of the 30th, and Ali of the 106th A RESOLUTION Recognizing of February as National Canned Food Month in the State of Georgia; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, February is nationally recognized as National Canned Food Month, an observance established in 1987 to highlight the nutritional value, affordability, convenience, and extended shelf life of canned foods; and WHEREAS, canned foods serve as an important, accessible, and shelf-stable source of nutrition for many individuals and families, including those experiencing food insecurity; and WHEREAS, the extended shelf life of canned foods makes them particularly well suited for donation to food banks and food pantries, especially during winter months when charitable food donations often decline; and WHEREAS, food banks, schools, faith-based organizations, local businesses, and community groups frequently organize voluntary canned food drives during this period to support community members in need. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize February as National Canned Food Month and encourage voluntary community participation in canned food drives and other charitable hunger-relief efforts. 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 would recognize February as National Canned Food Month, encouraging Georgians to take part in voluntary canned food drives and other hunger-relief efforts. ### Plain-language summary This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally recognizes February as National Canned Food Month, a designation first established nationally in 1987 to highlight the nutritional value, affordability, and long shelf life of canned foods. The resolution notes that canned foods are an important source of nutrition for people facing food insecurity and that their long shelf life makes them well suited for donation to food banks and pantries, especially in winter when charitable giving often slows. The House resolves to encourage voluntary community participation in canned food drives and similar charitable efforts, and directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes February as National Canned Food Month in the State of Georgia through a House resolution. - Encourages Georgians to voluntarily participate in canned food drives and other charitable hunger relief efforts. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties; it is a symbolic statement rather than a change to Georgia law. ### Who it affects The resolution speaks broadly to Georgia residents, food banks, food pantries, schools, faith-based organizations, local businesses, and community groups that may organize or take part in canned food drives during February. ### Why it matters Because the resolution carries no legal force, it does not require anyone to act. Its practical effect is to give public recognition and encouragement to existing charitable food drives, which may help raise awareness of food insecurity during a time when donations to food banks often decline. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses explain the history and purpose of National Canned Food Month and the role of canned foods in fighting food insecurity. - The resolving clause has the House recognize February as National Canned Food Month and encourage voluntary participation in canned food drives. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-02-05) - Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-09) - Sponsors: Sylvia Baker, Imani Barnes, Demetrius Douglas, Derrick McCollum, Akbar Ali - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72905 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1246.md?full=1