--- title: HR 986. National Newspaper Publishers Association; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr986 cite_as: HR 986, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr986 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr986.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr986/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72114 date: 2025-04-04 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/hr985.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr987.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr986.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 986 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-04-04 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Edna Jackson - Anne Westbrook - Ron Stephens - Carl Gilliard - Bill Hitchens text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR986/2025 upstream_id: 2021323 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - commemorative resolution - Black press history - Savannah Tribune - journalism - National Newspaper Publishers Association --- # HR 986. National Newspaper Publishers Association; commend ## Text 25 LC 129 0452 House Resolution 986 By: Representatives Jackson of the 165 th, Westbrook of the 163 rd, Stephens of the 164 th, Gilliard of the 162nd, and Hitchens of the 161st A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the National Newspaper Publishers Association; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, Reverend Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm became the p ublishers of the3 first Black-owned newspaper, Freedom's Journal, on March 16, 1827; and4 5 WHEREAS, the purpose of the formation of the Black Press was to give a voice to African6 American people to plead their own cause; and7 8 WHEREAS, in 1940, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a9 non-partisan trade association, was formed to support the growing number of Black-owned10 newspapers across America; and11 12 WHEREAS, today the NNPA has expanded its membership to well over 200 Black-owned13 newspapers and media companies providing both digital and print newspapers as well as14 daily virtual news programs; and15 16 WHEREAS, the NNPA provides a newswire and related services for its publishers; and17 H. R. 986 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0452 WHEREAS, the Black Press is deemed the trusted voice for news and information serving18 more than 27 million readers each week; and19 20 WHEREAS, the Black Press in America is celebrating its 198th year in this year of 2025.21 22 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that23 the members of this body recognize and commend the National New spaper Publishers24 Association and its more than 200 member publishers, including The Savannah Tribune, a25 beacon of journalism, who in this year of 2025, proudly celebra tes 150 years as a valued26 Savannah tradition; and furthermore, we extend gratitude to the National Newspaper27 Publishers Association for serving as the trusted news source for African Americans for 19828 years.29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body salute the National Newspaper30 Publishers Association for convening their 2025 National Convention in Savannah, Georgia,31 Georgia's first city and "The Hostess City of the South". 32 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized33 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the34 National Newspaper Publishers Association.35 H. R. 986 - 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 commends the National Newspaper Publishers Association and its member Black-owned newspapers, including The Savannah Tribune, for their history and 2025 convention in Savannah. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives. It recounts the history of the Black Press in America, starting with the first Black-owned newspaper, Freedom's Journal, in 1827, and the 1940 founding of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade group now representing more than 200 Black-owned newspapers and media companies. The resolution formally recognizes and commends the NNPA and its members, singles out The Savannah Tribune for its 150th anniversary, and salutes the NNPA for holding its 2025 National Convention in Savannah, Georgia. It directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for the association. The resolution creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement; it only expresses the House's recognition and appreciation. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends the National Newspaper Publishers Association and its more than 200 member publishers. - Specifically commends The Savannah Tribune newspaper for celebrating 150 years as a Savannah tradition in 2025. - Salutes the NNPA for holding its 2025 National Convention in Savannah, Georgia. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the NNPA. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the National Newspaper Publishers Association, its more than 200 member Black-owned newspapers and media companies, and specifically The Savannah Tribune. It also involves the Clerk of the House, who must prepare and distribute the commemorative copy. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect on Georgians; it is a symbolic honor. Its practical impact is limited to public recognition of the NNPA's history and The Savannah Tribune's anniversary, plus acknowledgment of the association's 2025 convention taking place in Savannah. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount the 1827 founding of Freedom's Journal and the 1940 creation of the NNPA as historical background. - The first resolving clause commends the NNPA and its members, naming The Savannah Tribune's 150th anniversary specifically. - The second resolving clause salutes the NNPA for convening its 2025 National Convention in Savannah, Georgia. - The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available to the NNPA. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-04-04) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: Edna Jackson, Anne Westbrook, Ron Stephens, Carl Gilliard, Bill Hitchens - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72114 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr986.md?full=1