--- title: HR 375. Coleman, Mike; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr375 cite_as: HR 375, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr375 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr375.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr375/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70757 date: 2025-02-24 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/hr374.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr376.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr375.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 375 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-24 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Karen Lupton text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR375/2025 upstream_id: 1982063 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia authors - legislative commendation - Georgia Author of the Year Award - Georgia House of Representatives --- # HR 375. Coleman, Mike; commend ## Text House Resolution 375 By: Representative Lupton of the 83rd A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Mike Coleman; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Mike Coleman, a longtime Georgia resident, has been honored as the recipient of a 2024 Georgia Author of the Year Award for his coming-out memoir, The Way from Me to Us; and WHEREAS, published by Riverdale Avenue Books in New York City in 2023, The Way from Me to Us has received widespread recognition for its candor and emotional depth, with a second edition scheduled for publication in spring 2025; and WHEREAS, since the book's initial publication, he has shared his work through readings and signings at bookstores and literary events across New York, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia; and WHEREAS, as an independent writer, editor, and branding consultant in the latter part of his career, Mike Coleman further authored An Aquarium for Georgia: Commemorating the Construction of the Georgia Aquarium for the Brasfield & Gorrie construction firm; and WHEREAS, a professional writer for nearly 45 years before retiring in 2020, Mike Coleman has received awards for news reporting and writing for nonprofit organizations and businesses in the technology industry; and WHEREAS, he continues to serve as a member of the Authors Guild, the oldest and largest association of published authors in the United States, and he is active in both the Atlanta Writers Club and the Broadleaf Writers Association; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this outstanding individual be appropriately honored during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Mike Coleman upon receiving his 2024 Georgia Author of the Year Award as well as extend sincere best wishes for future health and happiness. 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 Mike Coleman. ## 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 author Mike Coleman for winning a 2024 Georgia Author of the Year Award for his memoir The Way from Me to Us. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It recognizes Mike Coleman, a longtime Georgia resident and professional writer for nearly 45 years, for receiving a 2024 Georgia Author of the Year Award for his coming-out memoir, The Way from Me to Us. The resolution recounts his career, including his book tour appearances across several states, his work as a branding consultant, and his membership in writing organizations like the Authors Guild. It formally commends him and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send him a copy of the resolution as a keepsake. It has no regulatory effect and does not alter Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Mike Coleman for receiving the 2024 Georgia Author of the Year Award. - Extends the House of Representatives' best wishes to Coleman for future health and happiness. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Coleman. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Mike Coleman. It also involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is tasked with preparing and distributing a copy of the resolution to him. ### Why it matters This resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements; its practical effect is a formal, public statement of recognition from the state legislature for one individual's literary achievement. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses detail Coleman's memoir, its 2024 Georgia Author of the Year Award, and his nearly 45-year writing career. - The resolved clause formally commends Coleman and wishes him future health and happiness. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute a copy of the resolution to Coleman. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-24) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-24) - Sponsors: Karen Lupton - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70757 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr375.md?full=1