HR 1344: Lunar New Year Celebration; recognize

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives formally recognizes the Lunar New Year, which begins February 17, 2026. It notes that Georgia is home to nearly 500,000 Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, about 4 percent of the state's population, and that Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities in particular, about 200,000 Georgians, widely celebrate the holiday. The resolution states that the House joins these communities in celebrating the holiday, known this year as the Year of the Snake, and wishes all Georgians a peaceful and prosperous new year. It also directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and press. The resolution does not change any Georgia law; it is a ceremonial statement by the House.

• Formally recognizes February 17, 2026 as the beginning of the Lunar New Year on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
• States the House's intent to join Asian and Pacific Islander communities in celebrating the holiday and extends well wishes to all Georgians.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
• Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law.

The resolution most directly names Georgia's Asian and Pacific Islander American communities, including Bangladeshi, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, Iu-Mien, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese Georgians, with particular mention of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese residents who widely observe the holiday.

While the resolution carries no legal force and changes no Georgia statute, it is an official public acknowledgment by the state legislature of a holiday celebrated by hundreds of thousands of Georgians, and it results in copies being distributed to the public and press.

• The whereas clauses state that Georgia has nearly 500,000 Asian and Pacific Islander American residents, about 4 percent of the state's population.
• The whereas clauses note that Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Georgians, roughly 200,000 people, predominantly celebrate the Lunar New Year.
• The resolving clause has the House join in celebrating February 17, 2026 as the start of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake.
• A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available for distribution to the public and the press.

1. 2026-02-11House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2026-02-11House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-11House Hopper (House)

• Long Tran (D, HD-080)Primary sponsor
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)
• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)

• Lunar New Year
• Asian and Pacific Islander Americans
• Georgia House resolution
• cultural celebration