---
title: HR 180. Mitchell, Malcolm; Georgia Reads Coach; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr180
cite_as: HR 180, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr180
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr180.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr180/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69993
date: 2025-02-05
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/hr179.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr181.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr180.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 180
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-05
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Chris Erwin
  - Bethany Ballard
  - Will Wade
  - Matt Barton
  - Mike Cheokas
  - Matt Dubnik
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR180/2025
upstream_id: 1958398
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - literacy
  - education
  - Georgia Reads Coach
  - childhood reading programs
---

# HR 180. Mitchell, Malcolm; Georgia Reads Coach; commend

## Text

House Resolution 180
By: Representatives Erwin of the 32nd, Ballard of the 147th, Wade of the 9th, Barton of the 5th,
Cheokas of the 151st, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Georgia Reads Coach Malcolm Mitchell; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, literacy skills are necessary for life and work; improving literacy in all age
groups is a moral imperative and necessary for Georgia's workforce and thriving economy;
and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the General Assembly recognized the importance of literacy with the
passage of two bills: SB 211, which created the Georgia Council on Literacy, and HB 538,
which required comprehensive education reforms for reading instruction in the science of
reading; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Council on Literacy and its 30 members began work on July 1,
2023, monitoring the implementation of the Early Literacy Act, reviewing literacy data
among various populations, and creating Georgia's 2030 State Literacy Plan with the goal
of becoming the state with the greatest literacy gains in the country and ensuring that every
child is a reader, every teacher is prepared, and every community is supported; and
WHEREAS, Malcolm Mitchell, Super Bowl champion, author, and speaker, was named the
Georgia Reads Coach by the Georgia Council on Literacy and was tasked by the council to
help Georgia reach its goal of all citizens possessing the literacy skills essential for both
workforce and daily life; and
WHEREAS, founder of the Share the Magic Foundation and player for both the University
of Georgia Bulldogs and New England Patriots, Malcolm has demonstrated his energy,
dedication, and commitment to inspiring kids to read; and
WHEREAS, through in-school programs, virtual challenges, and community partner
programs, the Share the Magic Foundation has reached students not only in Atlanta and
across Georgia but also in all 50 states and in 17 countries; and
WHEREAS, Malcolm's ability to connect with young students makes his Read with Malcolm
programs effective in motivating children to read, parents to serve as role models, and
communities to join in turning around the state's literacy challenges and turning the page to
a brighter future for all Georgians.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize and commend Georgia Reads Coach Malcolm Mitchell
for his important work in using literacy to empower individuals to find successful careers,
keep healthy, and contribute to their family and community.
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
Georgia Reads Coach Malcolm Mitchell.

## 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 Malcolm Mitchell, the Georgia Reads Coach, for his work promoting childhood literacy through the Share the Magic Foundation.

### Plain-language summary

This is a commendation resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Malcolm Mitchell, a former University of Georgia and New England Patriots player who was named Georgia Reads Coach by the Georgia Council on Literacy. The resolution recounts the state's recent literacy efforts, including the 2023 creation of the Georgia Council on Literacy (SB 211) and reading instruction reforms (HB 538), and credits Mitchell's Share the Magic Foundation with reaching students across Georgia, all 50 states, and 17 countries through in-school programs, virtual challenges, and community partnerships.
The resolution does not create any new law, funding, or requirement. It formally recognizes Mitchell's contributions to literacy efforts and directs the Clerk of the House to provide him with a copy of the resolution.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and commends Malcolm Mitchell for his work as Georgia Reads Coach promoting literacy among children.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Mitchell.
- Creates no new law, funding, or policy requirement; it is a ceremonial statement by the House.
- Summarizes prior legislative literacy efforts (SB 211 creating the Georgia Council on Literacy and HB 538 on reading instruction reforms) as background context.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names and honors Malcolm Mitchell. It also references the Georgia Council on Literacy, Georgia's public schools, and students involved in literacy programs, though it imposes no obligations on any of these groups.

### Why it matters

While the resolution itself changes no law or funding, it publicly highlights the state's ongoing literacy initiatives and the role of the Georgia Reads Coach position, keeping attention on childhood literacy efforts connected to the 2023 Early Literacy Act reforms.

### Key provisions

- Recites the 2023 passage of SB 211 (creating the Georgia Council on Literacy) and HB 538 (reading instruction reforms) as background.
- States that the Georgia Council on Literacy named Malcolm Mitchell as Georgia Reads Coach to help improve statewide literacy.
- Resolves that the House of Representatives commends Mitchell for his literacy work.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available to Mitchell.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-05)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-05)
- Sponsors: Chris Erwin, Bethany Ballard, Will Wade, Matt Barton, Mike Cheokas, Matt Dubnik
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69993

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr180.md?full=1