--- title: HR 1885. Autism Acceptance Month; 04/26; World Autism Awareness Day; 04/02/26; Connor Tomlinson; work advocating for the autism community; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1885 cite_as: HR 1885, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1885 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1885.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1885/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74406 date: 2026-03-23 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/hr1884.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1886.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1885.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1885 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-23 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Lauren McDonald - Carter Barrett - Rick Jasperse - Todd Jones - David Clark - Brent Cox text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1885/2025 upstream_id: 2137366 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - autism awareness - disability advocacy - Georgia House resolution - law enforcement interactions --- # HR 1885. Autism Acceptance Month; 04/26; World Autism Awareness Day; 04/02/26; Connor Tomlinson; work advocating for the autism community; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1885 By: Representatives McDonald III of the 26th, Barrett of the 24th, Jasperse of the 11th, Jones of the 25th, Clark of the 100th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2026, as World Autism Awareness Day and commending Connor Tomlinson for his work advocating for the autism community; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that affects individuals in varying ways, influencing social interaction, communication, and behavior across a broad spectrum of strengths and challenges; and WHEREAS, autism can be characterized by persistent differences in communication and social interaction, including nonverbal communication challenges, difficulty interpreting social cues, and repetitive behaviors or intense interests, along with unique sensory processing needs; and WHEREAS, early screening and intervention are critical for children with autism, as children diagnosed by age four are more likely to receive necessary services that can significantly improve long-term outcomes; and WHEREAS, numerous evidence-based interventions—including applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech therapy, occupational therapy, and social skills training—have proven effective in promoting independence and reducing disruptive behaviors; and WHEREAS, complementary therapies such as art, music, and animal-assisted programs have also shown promise in enhancing communication and social engagement for individuals with autism; and WHEREAS, Autism Acceptance Month, observed annually in April, promotes greater understanding and inclusion of individuals with autism, shifting the narrative from awareness to acceptance and fostering more supportive, affirming communities; and WHEREAS, World Autism Awareness Day, held on April 2 each year, provides an international platform to recognize the contributions and rights of individuals with autism as well as to promote global dialogue on inclusivity and support systems; and WHEREAS, Connor Tomlinson, a resident of Forsyth County, gained popularity as a cast member on the Netflix show Love on the Spectrum, a show that follows people on the autism spectrum who are looking for love; and WHEREAS, Connor Tomlinson has connected with millions of viewers and has opened doors to careers in media for individuals with autism; and WHEREAS, Connor has used his platform to exercise his right to advocate for safer interactions with law enforcement and individuals with autism in Georgia. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2026, as World Autism Awareness Day as well as commend all organizations, advocates, and families working to create a more inclusive world for individuals with autism and Connor Tomlinson for his advocacy, public awareness efforts, and work to improve safety and understanding for individuals with autism in Georgia. 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 public and the press. ## 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 recognizes April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2026 as World Autism Awareness Day, and commends Forsyth County resident Connor Tomlinson for his autism advocacy work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives designates April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2026 as World Autism Awareness Day in the state. It also formally commends Connor Tomlinson, a Forsyth County resident known for appearing on the Netflix show Love on the Spectrum, for using his public platform to advocate for people with autism, including efforts to promote safer interactions between individuals with autism and law enforcement in Georgia. The resolution explains background on autism spectrum disorder, the value of early screening and evidence-based therapies, and the purpose of the two observances. It does not create any new law, program, or funding. It directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and the press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2026 as World Autism Awareness Day in Georgia. - Commends organizations, advocates, and families who work to create a more inclusive world for people with autism. - Specifically commends Connor Tomlinson for his advocacy and efforts to improve safety and understanding for individuals with autism in Georgia. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and press. ### Who it affects This resolution mainly affects public recognition rather than legal rights. It touches individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families, autism advocacy organizations, Connor Tomlinson personally, and the Clerk of the House, who must distribute copies of the resolution. ### Why it matters Because this is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not change Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its practical effect is symbolic: raising public attention to autism acceptance and honoring an individual advocate, which may support broader awareness efforts but carries no legal or financial consequences. ### Key provisions - The preamble (whereas clauses) describes autism spectrum disorder, early intervention benefits, and evidence-based and complementary therapies. - The resolved clause designates April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2026 as World Autism Awareness Day. - The resolved clause commends Connor Tomlinson for his advocacy, public awareness efforts, and work on safety and understanding for individuals with autism in Georgia. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available for public and press distribution. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-23) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-23) - Sponsors: Lauren McDonald, Carter Barrett, Rick Jasperse, Todd Jones, David Clark, Brent Cox - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74406 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1885.md?full=1