---
title: HR 376. HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response); commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr376
cite_as: HR 376, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr376
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr376.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr376/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70758
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/hr375.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr377.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr376.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 376
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:
  - Matthew Gambill
  - Johnny Chastain
  - Kasey Carpenter
  - Sharon Cooper
  - Katie Dempsey
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR376/2025
upstream_id: 1982184
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - disaster response
  - nonprofit recognition
  - commendation resolution
  - animal-assisted therapy
---

# HR 376. HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response); commend

## Text

House Resolution 376
By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Chastain of the 7th, Carpenter of the 4th, Cooper of
the 45th, and Dempsey of the 13th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response); and for
other purposes.
WHEREAS, HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response) was incorporated as a
501(c)(3) in 2001 with the mission of providing comfort and encouragement to individuals
affected by crises and disasters through animal-assisted support; and
WHEREAS, consisting of highly trained handlers and crisis-response canines, HOPE AACR
teams are prepared to support mental health professionals on location and adapt to
unpredictable situations, often deploying on short notice; and
WHEREAS, HOPE AACR response teams are extensively trained in the Incident Command
System, First Aid/CPR for both humans and canines, emotional first aid techniques, and
trauma recognition, enabling them to respond effectively to emotionally and environmentally
intense situations; and
WHEREAS, the organization's teams work alongside local and national response agencies
such as Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, FEMA, the National Organization for
Victim Advocacy, the Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross as well as with fire
departments, law enforcement agencies, schools, and the United States Secret Service, Coast
Guard, Navy, and National Guard; and
WHEREAS, in the aftermath of hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, HOPE AACR
response teams deployed to the Florida State Operations Center in Tallahassee, supported
staff working at the FEMA Region IV Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta,
and assisted impacted communities in South Georgia; and
WHEREAS, in 2024 alone, HOPE AACR's Southeast Region logged close to 150 volunteer
hours and engaged in 1,200 meaningful interactions with Georgia disaster victims; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this outstanding organization be
appropriately honored.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize and commend the volunteers and canines of HOPE
AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response) for their dedicated, effective, and selfless service
on behalf of those in need as well as extend best wishes for continued success.
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
HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response).

## 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 formally commends HOPE AACR, a nonprofit that provides animal-assisted crisis response support to disaster victims, for its volunteer work across Georgia and the Southeast.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response), a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that sends trained handlers and crisis-response dogs to support people affected by disasters and crises.
The resolution describes the organization's training in areas like the Incident Command System, first aid, and trauma recognition, and its work alongside agencies such as FEMA, the American Red Cross, and the Georgia National Guard. It notes the group's response to hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton and its volunteer hours logged in the Southeast in 2024. The resolution does not change any Georgia law; it directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the organization.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and commends the volunteers and canines of HOPE AACR for their crisis-response work.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to HOPE AACR.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a symbolic statement of praise from the House.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names HOPE AACR, its volunteer handlers and crisis-response dogs. It has no legal effect on the general public, state agencies, or any regulated industry since it is a ceremonial statement rather than a law.

### Why it matters

Because this is a commendation rather than legislation, it does not change any rights, funding, or obligations for Georgians. Its practical effect is limited to publicly recognizing a nonprofit's disaster-response volunteers through an official House document.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's 'whereas' clauses describe HOPE AACR's founding, mission, training, and partner agencies such as FEMA, the American Red Cross, and the Coast Guard.
- The resolved clause states the House recognizes and commends HOPE AACR's volunteers and canines for their service.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to HOPE AACR.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-24)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-24)
- Sponsors: Matthew Gambill, Johnny Chastain, Kasey Carpenter, Sharon Cooper, Katie Dempsey
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70758

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr376.md?full=1