---
title: HR 1969. America 250 Day at the state capitol; April 1, 2026; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1969
cite_as: HR 1969, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1969
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1969.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1969/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74540
date: 2026-03-27
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/hr1968.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1970.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 134
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1969.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1969
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-27
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Matthew Gambill
  - Devan Seabaugh
  - Will Wade
  - Vance Smith
  - Martin Momtahan
  - Mitchell Scoggins
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1969/2025
upstream_id: 2139180
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - state capitol events
  - Georgia history
  - America 250th anniversary
  - commemorative resolutions
---

# HR 1969. America 250 Day at the state capitol; April 1, 2026; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 1969
By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Seabaugh of the 34th, Wade of the 9th, Smith of the
138th, Momtahan of the 17th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing April 1, 2026, as America 250 Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration
of Independence, a historic moment that established the United States of America as a nation
founded on the principles of freedom, liberty, and justice for all; and
WHEREAS, in its 250 years of growth and development, the United States has charted a
unique path in the history of civilization, remaining committed to the rights of the individual
and a representative system of government built on checks and balances that has weathered
and celebrated two and a half centuries of human struggle, challenge, cultural evolution, and
new births of freedom; and
WHEREAS, in that rich and storied history, the State of Georgia has played a key role in the
growth of the United States, from a loose collection of colonies to the greatest nation on
earth; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of James Oglethorpe, Georgia became the 13th and final
colony established by the British Empire in 1732; and
WHEREAS, the City of Savannah was established in 1733 as the first settlement of the
Georgia colony and remains one of the most historically significant cities in the United
States, including serving as the state's first capital; and
WHEREAS, Georgia contributed three signatories to the Declaration of Independence,
including Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton; and
WHEREAS, Georgia became the fourth state admitted to the Union upon its unanimous
ratification of the Constitution during a special legislative session in 1788, held in Augusta,
the state's second capital; and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has produced countless historical and culturally significant
figures who have not only shaped the South and the United States but also influenced the
entire world—from legendary civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. to
world-renowned entertainers like Otis Redding and many others who have contributed to the
state's rich cultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, Georgia has thus far produced one President of the United States, Jimmy Carter,
who was elected the 39th President and continued his humanitarian efforts following his time
in office; and
WHEREAS, Georgia has established itself as a cultural and athletic beacon for the whole
world, hosting the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, which will soon become only
one of two American cities to host both the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup with the
arrival of the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer, while also hosting the annual Masters
Tournament in Augusta and setting itself apart as the capital of college football; and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is a thriving business and economic hub, serving as the No.
1 state for business and the proud home of both internationally recognized brands and
thousands of small businesses that are critical to communities and our state, as well as assets
such as the world's most utilized airport; and
WHEREAS, Georgia's No. 1 industry has always been and remains agriculture, with many
crops now synonymous with the state, including peaches, peanuts, Vidalia onions,
blueberries, cotton, and more, as well as industries such as forestry and poultry.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize April 1, 2026, as America 250 Day at the state capitol
in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
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 1, 2026 as America 250 Day at the state capitol, marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

### Plain-language summary

This House resolution designates April 1, 2026 as America 250 Day at the Georgia state capitol, ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. It recounts Georgia's role in national history, including its founding as the 13th colony, its ratification of the U.S. Constitution as the fourth state, and notable Georgians such as Declaration signers Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and President Jimmy Carter.
The resolution also highlights Georgia's cultural, economic, and agricultural significance, from the 1996 Olympics and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 to the state's agriculture industry. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available to the public and press. Resolutions like this one carry no binding legal effect; they express the position of the House.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes April 1, 2026 as America 250 Day at the Georgia state capitol.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for public and press distribution.
- Commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and reviews Georgia's historical role in the founding and growth of the United States.

### Who it affects

The resolution primarily affects the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the House, who is directed to distribute copies. It has no direct legal or regulatory effect on other Georgians, businesses, or agencies.

### Why it matters

Because this is a commemorative resolution rather than a law, it creates no new rules, funding, or penalties. Its main effect is a symbolic recognition day at the capitol and a public reflection on Georgia's history tied to the nation's 250th anniversary.

### Key provisions

- The resolved clause recognizes April 1, 2026 as America 250 Day at the state capitol, tied to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
- A further resolved clause authorizes and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available to the public and the press.
- The whereas clauses recount Georgia history, including its founding in 1732, statehood in 1788, notable figures, and cultural and economic highlights, but carry no operative legal effect.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-27)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-27)
- Sponsors: Matthew Gambill, Devan Seabaugh, Will Wade, Vance Smith, Martin Momtahan, Mitchell Scoggins
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74540

> The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1969.md?full=1