--- title: HR 197. Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol; February 6, 2025; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr197 cite_as: HR 197, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr197 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr197.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr197/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70047 date: 2025-02-06 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/hr196.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr198.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr197.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 197 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-06 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Matt Dubnik text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR197/2025 upstream_id: 1960983 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - early childhood education - ceremonial resolution - child poverty - maternal and infant health --- # HR 197. Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol; February 6, 2025; recognize ## Text House Resolution 197 By: Representative Dubnik of the 29th A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 6, 2025, as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, our brains grow faster during the first few years of life than at any later point in our lives; and WHEREAS, more than 635,000 children under five years old reside in communities across Georgia, representing the state's future leaders; and WHEREAS, children's early experiences and relationships lay the foundation for future learning, health, and behavior; and WHEREAS, proper nutrition, medical care, and high-quality early education are all essential building blocks for a child's development; and WHEREAS, Georgia has made gains in supporting young children and their families in recent years, including an historic investment in Georgia's Lottery-Funded Pre-K, an increased emphasis on early childhood mental health, and increased supports for maternal health and well-being; and WHEREAS, despite this, many of Georgia's families with young children continue to struggle to meet high standards of health, education, and family stability; and WHEREAS, for example, nearly one in five of Georgia's children under five years old live in poverty, and one in ten of its babies are born with low birth weight; and WHEREAS, GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, a nonprofit organization, has brought together families from across Georgia to share the joys and challenges of raising young children with Georgia's lawmakers for Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol; and WHEREAS, Strolling Thunder Day emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our youngest learners in public policy for stronger families, vibrant communities, and a prosperous state; and WHEREAS, Georgia's future begins with babies, and all Georgians can help make sure that families have the resources and support they need to give their babies a strong start in life. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize February 6, 2025, as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol. 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 February 6, 2025 as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol, marking an advocacy event focused on young children and their families. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives designates February 6, 2025 as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol. The day is tied to an event organized by GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, a nonprofit that brings families with young children to meet with state lawmakers. The resolution lists a series of findings about early childhood development in Georgia, including that more than 635,000 children under five live in the state, that nearly one in five children under five live in poverty, and that one in ten babies are born with low birth weight. It states that Georgia has made investments in areas like Lottery-Funded Pre-K and maternal health. The resolution does not create any new law, funding, or program; it simply recognizes the day and directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the public and press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes February 6, 2025 as Strolling Thunder Day at the Georgia state capitol. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press. - Contains no binding legal requirements, funding, or changes to Georgia law; it is a ceremonial statement. ### Who it affects The resolution mainly affects GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students and the families with young children who participate in the Strolling Thunder Day event at the capitol, as well as members of the Georgia House of Representatives who adopt it. ### Why it matters Because the resolution is ceremonial, it does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its practical effect is limited to publicizing an advocacy day and putting House members on record acknowledging early childhood issues raised by GEEARS. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes February 6, 2025 as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol. - A further resolution clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies for distribution to the public and press. - The whereas clauses cite statistics on child poverty, low birth weight, and early childhood investment in Georgia but do not create enforceable policy. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-06) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-06) - Sponsors: Matt Dubnik - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70047 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr197.md?full=1