Georgia CommonsHR 1545: Cole, Jesse and Emily; Banana Ball and Bananas Foster; commend
Last action March 3, 2026 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution honors Jesse and Emily Cole, the founders of the Savannah Bananas baseball team, and their nonprofit Bananas Foster for raising awareness about foster care needs in Georgia.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes Jesse and Emily Cole, who created the Savannah Bananas baseball team and its entertainment brand Banana Ball, along with their nonprofit organization Bananas Foster. The resolution states that Bananas Foster works to bring attention to the foster care community by featuring a 'Bananas Foster Family' at each Banana Ball game and by using national media coverage to highlight the need for foster parents. It notes that Georgia has 9,500 children in foster care. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies for distribution to the Coles, Banana Ball, and Bananas Foster as a formal token of recognition.
What the bill does
- Formally honors and celebrates Jesse and Emily Cole, Banana Ball, and the nonprofit Bananas Foster on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- States the House's gratitude for the couple's efforts to raise awareness about the need for foster care parents in Georgia and nationwide.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the honorees.
- Creates no new law, funding, or requirement; it is a symbolic statement rather than a regulatory or budgetary action.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names Jesse and Emily Cole, the Savannah Bananas organization, Banana Ball, and the nonprofit Bananas Foster. It also references Georgia's foster care community, including the state's foster children and prospective foster parents, though it creates no legal obligations for them.
Why it matters
Because this is a commendatory resolution, it does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its practical effect is limited to formal recognition, though it publicly highlights the state's foster care shortage, noting 9,500 children currently in foster care in Georgia.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses describe the founding of the Savannah Bananas in 2016 and the creation of Bananas Foster as a nonprofit supporting foster families.
- The resolution notes Georgia has 9,500 children in foster care and cites national media coverage of the foster care need generated by Banana Ball's platform.
- The resolving clause formally honors and thanks Jesse and Emily Cole, Banana Ball, and Bananas Foster for their foster care awareness work.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the honorees.
From the bill
“the State of Georgia has 9,500 children in foster care, and a need for additional foster parents clearly exists”
“Bananas Foster is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing families together by celebrating the foster care community while educating and inspiring others to get involved”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
- Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
- Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)
- Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
Topics
- foster care
- Savannah Bananas
- Banana Ball
- legislative commendation
- nonprofit organizations