--- title: SR 1043. America 250 Day; recognize April 1, 2026 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr1043 cite_as: SR 1043, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1043 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1043.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1043/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74431 date: 2026-03-27 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/sr1042.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1044.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1043.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 1043 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-27 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Bo Hatchett - Jason Anavitarte - Larry Walker - Randy Robertson - Ed Setzler - Gail Davenport - Blake Tillery - Sally Harrell - Drew Echols - Ricky Williams - Randal Mangham - Timothy Bearden - Chuck Hufstetler - Brian Strickland - Ben Watson text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR1043/2025 upstream_id: 2138452 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - state history - ceremonial resolution - America 250th anniversary - Georgia Senate --- # SR 1043. America 250 Day; recognize April 1, 2026 ## Text Senate Resolution 1043 By: Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Walker III of the 20th, Robertson of the 29th, Setzler of the 37th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing April 1, 2026, as America 250 Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, a historic moment that established the United States of America as a nation founded on the principles of freedom, liberty, and justice for all; and WHEREAS, in its 250 years of growth and development, the United States has charted a unique path in the history of civilization, remaining committed to the rights of the individual and a representative system of government built on checks and balances that has weathered and celebrated two and a half centuries of human struggle, challenge, cultural evolution, and new births of freedom; and WHEREAS, in that rich and storied history, the State of Georgia has played a key role in the growth of the United States, from a loose collection of colonies to the greatest nation on earth; and WHEREAS, under the leadership of James Oglethorpe, Georgia became the 13th and final colony established by the British Empire in 1732; and WHEREAS, the City of Savannah was established in 1733 as the first settlement of the Georgia colony and remains one of the most historically significant cities in the United States, including serving as the state's first capital; and WHEREAS, Georgia contributed three signatories to the Declaration of Independence, including Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton; and WHEREAS, Georgia became the fourth state admitted to the Union upon its unanimous ratification of the Constitution during a special legislative session in 1788, held in Augusta, the state's second capital; and WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has produced countless historical and culturally significant figures who have not only shaped the South and the United States but also influenced the entire world—from legendary civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. to world-renowned entertainers like Otis Redding and many others who have contributed to the state's rich cultural heritage; and WHEREAS, Georgia has thus far produced one President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who was elected the 39th President and continued his humanitarian efforts following his time in office; and WHEREAS, Georgia has established itself as a cultural and athletic beacon for the whole world, hosting the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, which will soon become only one of two American cities to host both the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup with the arrival of the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer, while also hosting the annual Masters Tournament in Augusta and setting itself apart as the capital of college football; and WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is a thriving business and economic hub, serving as the No. 1 state for business and the proud home of both internationally recognized brands and thousands of small businesses that are critical to communities and our state, as well as assets such as the world's most utilized airport; and WHEREAS, Georgia's No. 1 industry has always been and remains agriculture, with many crops now synonymous with the state, including peaches, peanuts, Vidalia onions, blueberries, cotton, and more, as well as industries such as forestry and poultry. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize April 1, 2026, as America 250 Day at the state capitol in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## 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 Senate resolution designates April 1, 2026 as America 250 Day at the state capitol, marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and highlighting Georgia's role in national history. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia Senate does not change any law. Instead, it formally recognizes April 1, 2026, as America 250 Day at the state capitol, ahead of the actual 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. The bulk of the text is a series of 'whereas' clauses describing Georgia's history and contributions to the United States, including its founding as the 13th colony, its role in ratifying the Constitution, notable Georgians like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jimmy Carter, and the state's economic and cultural standing. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press. It has no enforcement mechanism and creates no new rules or funding. ### What it does - Formally designates April 1, 2026 as America 250 Day at the Georgia state capitol. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate. ### Who it affects This resolution mainly affects the Georgia Senate itself and the Secretary of the Senate's office, which must distribute copies. It has symbolic relevance to the general public and press interested in Georgia's history and the America 250 anniversary events. ### Why it matters Because this is a ceremonial resolution, it does not alter any Georgian's rights, obligations, or taxes. Its main real-world effect is a formal, publicized recognition of a date tied to the nation's 250th anniversary, distributed to the public and press. ### Key provisions - Recognizes April 1, 2026 as 'America 250 Day' at the state capitol, tied to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. - Includes a series of whereas clauses recounting Georgia history, including its founding in 1732, statehood in 1788, and notable historical figures. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available for public and press distribution. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-27) - Sponsors: Bo Hatchett, Jason Anavitarte, Larry Walker, Randy Robertson, Ed Setzler, Gail Davenport, Blake Tillery, Sally Harrell, Drew Echols, Ricky Williams, Randal Mangham, Timothy Bearden, Chuck Hufstetler, Brian Strickland, Ben Watson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74431 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1043.md?full=1