--- title: SR 317. Brightside Forever Foundation; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr317 cite_as: SR 317, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr317 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr317.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr317/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71053 date: 2025-03-03 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 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/sr316.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr318.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr317.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 317 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-03 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Clint Dixon - Drew Echols - Frank Ginn - Jason Anavitarte - Steve Gooch - Russ Goodman text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR317/2025 upstream_id: 1989302 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - special needs advocacy - nonprofit recognition - disability employment - Georgia Senate resolution --- # SR 317. Brightside Forever Foundation; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 317 By: Senators Dixon of the 45th, Echols of the 49th, Ginn of the 47th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Gooch of the 51st and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Brightside Forever Foundation; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Brightside Forever Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more inclusive future by empowering individuals with special needs; and WHEREAS, the Brightside Forever Foundation breaks barriers, celebrates differences, and provides resources to foster independence and belonging for all through advocacy and education initiatives; and WHEREAS, the Brightside Forever Foundation's coffee shop in Buford, Brightside Cafe, creates job opportunities to promote inclusive work environments and educate other employers about the value of hiring individuals with diverse abilities; and WHEREAS, the Brightside Forever Foundation provides financial support to individuals with special needs to attend specialized college programs that cater to their unique educational, career, and social development needs, ensuring access to higher education opportunities that nurture their potential and open doors to future success; and WHEREAS, the Brightside Forever Foundation provides scholarships and financial support to students pursuing degrees in special education and related fields, aiming to create a future where all children with special needs receive a quality education; and WHEREAS, through events, outreach programs, and collaborative initiatives, Brightside Cafe provides the community with opportunities to connect with its mission of building an inclusive, greater environment for individuals with special needs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend the Brightside Forever Foundation for its outstanding contributions on behalf of individuals with special needs and extend best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Brightside Forever Foundation. ## 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 formally recognizes and commends the Brightside Forever Foundation, a nonprofit that supports individuals with special needs, for its work in the community. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It recognizes the Brightside Forever Foundation, a nonprofit based in Buford, for its efforts to support people with special needs. The resolution describes the foundation's work, including running Brightside Cafe, a coffee shop that employs people with special needs and models inclusive hiring for other employers, providing financial support so people with special needs can attend specialized college programs, and offering scholarships to students studying special education. The Senate directs its Secretary to prepare a copy of the resolution for the foundation, but the text creates no new funding, requirements, or legal changes. ### What it does - Formally states the Senate's recognition and commendation of the Brightside Forever Foundation for its work supporting individuals with special needs. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and provide a copy of the resolution to the foundation. - Creates no new law, funding, requirement, or penalty; it is a ceremonial statement rather than a legal mandate. ### Who it affects The Brightside Forever Foundation and its affiliated Brightside Cafe in Buford are the direct subjects of this recognition. The resolution has no binding effect on other individuals, businesses, or government agencies. ### Why it matters Because this is a ceremonial resolution, it does not change Georgia law, create funding, or impose any obligations. Its main effect is a formal, public statement of appreciation from the Senate that the foundation can use for recognition purposes. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe the foundation's mission of empowering individuals with special needs through advocacy, education, and job creation at Brightside Cafe. - The first resolving clause states the Senate's recognition and commendation of the foundation's contributions. - The second resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to the foundation. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-03) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-03) - Sponsors: Clint Dixon, Drew Echols, Frank Ginn, Jason Anavitarte, Steve Gooch, Russ Goodman - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71053 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr317.md?full=1