--- title: HR 1643. Bobby Dodd Institute; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1643 cite_as: HR 1643, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1643 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1643.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1643/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73980 date: 2026-03-06 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/hr1642.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1644.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 134 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1643.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1643 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-06 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Kim Schofield - Viola Davis - Sandra Scott text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1643/2025 upstream_id: 2130746 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - disability services - workforce development - Georgia nonprofits - legislative commendation --- # HR 1643. Bobby Dodd Institute; commend ## Text House Resolution 1643 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, and Scott of the 76th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Bobby Dodd Institute; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, inspired by the rich history and legacy of Bobby Dodd, an ardent advocate and College Football Hall of Fame player and coach, the Bobby Dodd Institute empowers individuals to maximize their potential by securing economic self-sufficiency, independence, and inclusion within their communities; and WHEREAS, the Bobby Dodd Institute has grown from its humble beginnings as a resources program at All About Developmental Disabilities to become a workforce innovation leader that offers a continuum of support for all ages, stages, and levels of need for people with disabilities and their families; and WHEREAS, during 2025, the institute assisted nearly 3,500 individuals through its empowerment and employment services, including career planning, specialized job training, resources coordination, intensive case management, life skills training, and more; and WHEREAS, the institute additionally launched its Elevate Academy in partnership with local businesses to provide individuals aged 18 to 30 with paid internships that allow them to develop job skills in real-world environments; and WHEREAS, through its Benefits Navigation program, the institute helped secure over $232 million in cumulative potential lifetime public benefits, allowing those in need to achieve the foundation necessary for a stable, independent life; and WHEREAS, with nearly 50 worksites and more than 375 employees, 43 percent of whom have a diagnosed disability, the Bobby Dodd Institute is a beacon of hope that generates meaningful, impactful results for the individuals and families it serves; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this exemplary organization be appropriately honored. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend the Bobby Dodd Institute for its decades of exceptional service on behalf of those in need as well as extend best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Bobby Dodd Institute. ## 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 commends the Bobby Dodd Institute, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that helps people with disabilities find jobs and public benefits, for its work in 2025. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes the Bobby Dodd Institute, a nonprofit named for the former Georgia Tech football coach, for its work helping people with disabilities and their families achieve economic independence. The resolution describes the institute's growth from a small resource program into a workforce support organization, citing that it assisted nearly 3,500 people in 2025 through job training, case management, and life skills programs, launched a paid internship program called Elevate Academy, and helped clients secure more than $232 million in cumulative potential lifetime public benefits. It formally commends the institute and directs the Clerk of the House to send it a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends the Bobby Dodd Institute for its work serving people with disabilities and their families. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the institute. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial statement of praise passed by the House. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the Bobby Dodd Institute, its staff, and the individuals with disabilities and families it serves. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies. ### Why it matters Because this is a commendation rather than a law, it does not change anyone's rights, funding, or obligations. Its practical effect is public recognition of the institute's employment and benefits-navigation work for people with disabilities in Georgia. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe the institute's history, its 2025 services to about 3,500 people, and its Elevate Academy paid internship program for ages 18 to 30. - The whereas clauses cite over $232 million in cumulative potential lifetime public benefits secured through the institute's Benefits Navigation program. - The resolving clause commends the institute for its decades of service and wishes it continued success. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to the institute. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-06) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-06) - Sponsors: Kim Schofield, Viola Davis, Sandra Scott - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73980 > The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1643.md?full=1