Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 433: Profound Autism Day; recognize March 17, 2025
Last action March 21, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day, drawing attention to autistic individuals who need lifelong, round-the-clock care.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution does not change any Georgia law. Instead, it formally recognizes March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day in the Georgia Senate. It explains that the term profound autism describes autistic individuals who need 24/7 care from an adult caregiver, often because they also have a severe intellectual disability or little to no language skills. The resolution cites a 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study finding that about 26.7 percent of 8-year-olds with autism in the United States have profound autism, and that these children are more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or at low birth weight, and to have self-injurious behaviors or seizure disorders. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day through a Georgia Senate resolution.
- Defines profound autism in the resolution's text as describing individuals who need 24/7 adult caregiver support throughout their lives.
- Cites 2023 CDC prevalence data stating that 26.7 percent of 8-year-olds with autism in the United States have profound autism.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties since it is a recognition resolution rather than a law change.
Who it affects
People with profound autism and their families and caregivers, who the resolution says often need constant care and face isolation. It also touches the Georgia Senate and its Secretary, who is directed to distribute copies to the public and press.
Why it matters
Because this is a resolution rather than a law, it carries no legal or funding changes. Its practical effect is symbolic: it publicly names a day to raise awareness about profound autism and the intensive, lifelong caregiving needs of the people it describes.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses define profound autism as describing autistic individuals who need 24/7 care from an adult caregiver for life.
- Cites the CDC's April 2023 study finding 26.7 percent of 8-year-olds with autism in the United States have profound autism.
- Notes the study's finding that children with profound autism are more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minorities, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, and to have self-injurious behaviors or seizure disorders.
- The resolved clause designates March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.
From the bill
“profound autism is a term that clarifies the needs of autistic individuals who require 24/7 care from an adult caregiver throughout their lives”
“26.7 percent of 8-year-old children with autism in the United States have profound autism, meaning that one in four children with autism falls into this category”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- John Albers (R, SD-56)
- Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
- Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
Topics
- autism awareness
- disability support
- Georgia Senate resolutions
- public health