HR 381: Believe Greater Dalton; recipients of the Georgia Reads Community Award; dedication to literacy advancement; commend

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a change to state law. It recognizes Believe Greater Dalton, a strategic planning initiative of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, for receiving the Georgia Reads Community Award, which the Georgia Council on Literacy gives to communities that build sustained partnerships to improve literacy. The resolution describes how Believe Greater Dalton has spent roughly a decade building a coalition called the B8 team, including local schools, colleges, health care providers, and nonprofits, aimed at getting children reading at grade level by third grade. It closes by directing the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to Believe Greater Dalton as a formal record of recognition.

• Formally congratulates and commends Believe Greater Dalton for receiving the Georgia Reads Community Award.
• Recites the group's decade of work building partnerships aimed at improving childhood literacy in the Dalton area.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Believe Greater Dalton.

The resolution directly names Believe Greater Dalton, the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, and its partner organizations, including Dalton Public Schools, Whitfield County Schools, Dalton State College, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, United Way, Family Connections, local childcare centers, Vitruvian Health, and the Anna Shaw Children's Institute.

The resolution carries no legal or funding changes; it is a public statement of recognition from the Georgia House of Representatives. Its main effect is symbolic, giving formal state-level acknowledgment to a local literacy partnership and its member organizations in Dalton and Whitfield County.

• Recites the purpose of the Georgia Reads Community Award, given to communities with sustained multi-organization literacy partnerships.
• Names Believe Greater Dalton, the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce's strategic planning initiative, as a recipient of the award.
• Lists the coalition of partner organizations, called the B8 team, involved in the literacy effort.
• Resolves that the House commends the award recipients, particularly Believe Greater Dalton.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to Believe Greater Dalton.

1. 2025-02-24House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-24House Hopper (House)

• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)Primary sponsor
• Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)
• Steve Tarvin (R, HD-002)

• literacy
• Dalton Georgia
• legislative commendation
• education partnerships