--- title: HR 693. Profound Autism Day; March 17, 2025; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr693 cite_as: HR 693, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr693 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr693.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr693/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71578 date: 2025-03-21 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/hr692.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr694.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr693.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 693 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-21 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Matthew Gambill - Martin Momtahan - Mitchell Scoggins - Joseph Gullett - Bill Yearta - Danny Mathis text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR693/2025 upstream_id: 2012774 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - autism awareness - disability support - Georgia House resolution - caregiving --- # HR 693. Profound Autism Day; March 17, 2025; recognize ## Text 25 LC 112 3424 House Resolution 693 By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Momtahan of the 17th, Scoggins of the 14th, Gullett of the 19th, Yearta of the 152nd, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the definition of autism has evolved over the years, c reating an increasingly2 heterogeneous spectrum, and while all individuals on the autism spectrum deserve3 recognition and support, profound autism is a term that clarifi e s t h e n e e d s o f a u t i s t i c4 individuals who require 24/7 care from an adult caregiver throughout their lives; and5 WHEREAS, people with profound autism may also have a severe intellectual disability or6 have minimal to no language skills, and their unique needs ofte n result in their exclusion7 from research and support programs; and8 WHEREAS, in April 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Pre vention released their9 first prevalence study on profound autism, concluding that 26.7 percent of 8-year-old10 children with autism in the United States have profound autism, meaning that one in four11 children with autism falls into this category; and12 WHEREAS, the study further found that compared with children with non-profound autism,13 children with profound autism were more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority14 H. R. 693 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3424 groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low b irth weight, have15 self-injurious behaviors, have seizure disorders, and have lower adaptive scores; and16 WHEREAS, people with profound autism and those who care for them often live in isolation,17 necessitating greater inclusion and support, and it is imperative to recognize and address their18 distinct challenges.19 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that20 the members of this body recognize March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day.21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized22 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the23 public and the press.24 H. R. 693 - 2 - ## 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 designates March 17, 2025 as Profound Autism Day, drawing attention to the needs of autistic people who require lifelong, round the clock care. ### Plain-language summary This House resolution recognizes March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day in Georgia. It explains that the term 'profound autism' describes autistic individuals who need 24/7 care from an adult caregiver and who may also have severe intellectual disabilities or little to no language ability. The resolution cites a 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study finding that about 26.7 percent of 8-year-old children with autism in the United States fall into this profound autism category. The resolution notes that people with profound autism, and their caregivers, often face isolation and are frequently left out of research and support programs. It does not create any new law, funding, or program. It simply has the House of Representatives officially recognize the day and directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and the press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day through a resolution of the Georgia House of Representatives. - Cites CDC findings that about 26.7 percent of 8-year-old children with autism in the United States have profound autism. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press. - Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or programs; it is a symbolic statement rather than a change to Georgia law. ### Who it affects The resolution most directly concerns people with profound autism and their families and caregivers, since it highlights their need for lifelong 24/7 care and their frequent exclusion from research and support programs. ### Why it matters While the resolution does not change any law or provide funding, it gives official recognition to the specific challenges faced by people with profound autism and their caregivers, potentially raising public awareness of a group the text says is often excluded from research and support. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe profound autism as affecting autistic individuals who need 24/7 adult caregiving throughout their lives. - Cites an April 2023 CDC study finding 26.7 percent of 8-year-old children with autism in the United States have profound autism. - Notes that children with profound autism were more likely to be female, from racial or ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, and to have self-injurious behaviors or seizure disorders. - The resolving clause has the House of Representatives recognize March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-21) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-21) - Sponsors: Matthew Gambill, Martin Momtahan, Mitchell Scoggins, Joseph Gullett, Bill Yearta, Danny Mathis - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71578 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr693.md?full=1