--- title: HR 1261. 2026 as the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1261 cite_as: HR 1261, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1261 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1261.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1261/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72935 date: 2026-02-05 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/hr1260.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1262.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1261.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1261 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-05 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Debbie Buckner - Mary Oliver - Mary Williams text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1261/2025 upstream_id: 2109957 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - birding - wildlife conservation - Georgia tourism - environmental awareness --- # HR 1261. 2026 as the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail; commend ## Text House Resolution 1261 By: Representatives Buckner of the 137th, Oliver of the 84th, and Williams of the 37th A RESOLUTION Recognizing 2026 as the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Birds Georgia is celebrating its hundredth anniversary as a conservation organization celebrating and protecting birds that fly through Georgia and those which call Georgia their year-round home; and WHEREAS, bird watching brings over ten billion tourist dollars into Georgia each year; and WHEREAS, bird enthusiasts want to find and enjoy prime birding locations across all of Georgia; and WHEREAS, the new Georgia Birding Trail is a centennial birthday gift to the state, providing real-time data on bird sightings for guiding birders; and WHEREAS, birds are essential indicators of environmental health, providing invaluable services, including pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control; and WHEREAS, bird populations face significant threats requiring urgent conservation action; and WHEREAS, the recognition of this, the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail, encourages individuals to engage in bird-friendly practices, such as planting native plants that provide necessary food and shelter; and WHEREAS, public engagement through birding, citizen science, and the use of technology like the Merlin Bird ID app can foster a deeper connection to nature and a commitment to conservation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize 2026 as the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail and urge all citizens to protect bird habitats in their local communities, learn about local bird species and their ecological roles, and support conservation initiatives that ensure a sustainable future for all feathered species. 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 Birds Georgia, 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 2026 as the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail, marking the centennial of the conservation group Birds Georgia and encouraging residents to support bird conservation. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives officially recognizes 2026 as the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail. It notes that Birds Georgia, a conservation organization, is celebrating its hundredth anniversary, and that the new Georgia Birding Trail offers real-time data on bird sightings to help birdwatchers find good locations across the state. The resolution does not create any new law, funding, or program. It states the House's recognition of 2026 as this designated year and urges Georgians to protect bird habitats in their communities, learn about local bird species, and support conservation efforts. It also directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to Birds Georgia, the public, and the press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes 2026 as the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail through a House resolution. - Urges Georgia citizens to protect bird habitats in their local communities. - Encourages residents to learn about local bird species and their ecological roles. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to Birds Georgia, the public, and the press. ### Who it affects This resolution mainly concerns Birds Georgia, a bird conservation organization marking its hundredth anniversary, and members of the public interested in birdwatching, tourism, and habitat conservation across Georgia. It creates no binding obligations on any agency or individual. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or funding effect, but it publicly highlights bird conservation and the new Georgia Birding Trail, which the text says supports tourism and habitat protection. It signals legislative attention to conservation issues without changing any Georgia law. ### Key provisions - The preamble notes Birds Georgia's hundredth anniversary and describes bird watching's contribution of over ten billion tourist dollars to Georgia annually. - The preamble describes the new Georgia Birding Trail as providing real-time bird sighting data to guide birders. - The resolving clause has the House recognize 2026 as the Year of the Georgia Birding Trail and urge habitat protection, education, and conservation support. - A further resolution directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to Birds Georgia, the public, and the press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-05) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-05) - Sponsors: Debbie Buckner, Mary Oliver, Mary Williams - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72935 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1261.md?full=1