--- title: HR 1298. Cara Jaden Atkins Memorial Interchange; Cherokee County; dedicate collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1298 cite_as: HR 1298, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1298 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1298.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1298/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73071 date: 2026-02-12 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/hr1297.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1299.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1298.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1298 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-10 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Jordan Ridley - Charlice Byrd - Brad Thomas - Don Parsons - Rick Jasperse - Mitchell Scoggins text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1298/2025 upstream_id: 2113604 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - memorial dedication - Cherokee County - road naming - Department of Transportation --- # HR 1298. Cara Jaden Atkins Memorial Interchange; Cherokee County; dedicate ## Text House Resolution 1298 By: Representatives Ridley of the 22nd, Byrd of the 20th, Thomas of the 21st, Parsons of the 44th, Jasperse of the 11th, and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life of Ms. Cara Jaden Atkins and dedicating an interchange in her memory; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Ms. Cara Jaden Atkins was born on April 27, 2002, in Marietta, Georgia, the beloved daughter of Perry and Christy Atkins; and WHEREAS, an exceptional athlete, Ms. Atkins graduated from Etowah High School and continued her education at Georgia Highlands College, where she excelled academically, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, earning repeated spots on the Dean's List, and was a member of the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa honor society; and WHEREAS, she graduated from dental hygienist school and was eagerly pursuing her bachelor's degree in science, driven by her passion for helping others achieve better health and confidence; and WHEREAS, Ms. Atkins spent her time giving back to local charities and causes that uplifted others in need, including Jamie's Hope, the Cherokee Humane Society, and Locks of Love; and WHEREAS, she coached gymnastics to young children and touched the lives of many with her smile that was like sunshine, instantly filling any room with warmth, joy, and positivity; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this encouraging, kind, and selfless Georgian be recognized appropriately by dedicating an interchange in her memory. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Route 92 in Cherokee County is dedicated as the Cara Jaden Atkins Memorial Interchange. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Cara Jaden Atkins Memorial Interchange. 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 family of Ms. Cara Jaden Atkins and the Department of Transportation. ## 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 name the Interstate 75 and State Route 92 interchange in Cherokee County the Cara Jaden Atkins Memorial Interchange, honoring the late Etowah High School graduate. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia General Assembly honors the life of Cara Jaden Atkins, a Cherokee County woman who graduated from Etowah High School, earned top academic honors at Georgia Highlands College, trained as a dental hygienist, coached youth gymnastics, and volunteered with local charities. The resolution's operative effect is to officially dedicate the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Route 92 in Cherokee County as the Cara Jaden Atkins Memorial Interchange. It directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to put up and maintain signs marking the dedication, and directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to Atkins' family and to the Department of Transportation. ### What it does - Dedicates the Interstate 75 and State Route 92 interchange in Cherokee County as the Cara Jaden Atkins Memorial Interchange. - Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the interchange's new name. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send copies of the resolution to Atkins' family and to the Department of Transportation. ### Who it affects The resolution directly affects the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must install and maintain the memorial signage, and the family of Cara Jaden Atkins, who receive formal recognition. Drivers using the I-75/SR 92 interchange in Cherokee County will see the new name on road signs. ### Why it matters Once enacted, motorists traveling through Cherokee County will see new signage marking the interchange in Atkins' honor. The resolution creates a lasting public memorial but does not change traffic rules, funding, or any other law affecting daily life beyond the signage itself. ### Key provisions - The first resolving clause formally dedicates the I-75 and State Route 92 interchange in Cherokee County as the Cara Jaden Atkins Memorial Interchange. - The second resolving clause authorizes and directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signs for the dedication. - The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to Atkins' family and the Department of Transportation. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-02-10) - Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-12) - Sponsors: Jordan Ridley, Charlice Byrd, Brad Thomas, Don Parsons, Rick Jasperse, Mitchell Scoggins - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73071 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1298.md?full=1