Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 514: Autism Acceptance Month; recognize April 2025
Last action April 2, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2025 as World Autism Awareness Day, honoring people with autism and those who support them.
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 is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It formally recognizes April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2025 as World Autism Awareness Day, echoing national observances tied to autism spectrum disorder. The text describes autism as a lifelong developmental condition affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior, and highlights the value of early screening, interventions like applied behavior analysis and speech therapy, and complementary approaches such as art and music therapy. The Senate commends organizations, advocates, and families working toward inclusion. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press, but it creates no new programs, funding, or legal requirements.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month in Georgia.
- Formally recognizes April 2, 2025 as World Autism Awareness Day in Georgia.
- Commends organizations, advocates, and families working to support individuals with autism.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
Who it affects
The resolution speaks to individuals with autism spectrum disorder, their families, advocacy organizations, and service providers such as therapists, but it does not impose any new legal obligations on any group.
Why it matters
While the resolution does not change Georgia law or fund any programs, it publicly signals the Senate's recognition of autism-related awareness efforts and may draw attention to the importance of early diagnosis and support services for families and advocates.
Key provisions
- The resolving clause recognizes April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2025 as World Autism Awareness Day.
- The resolution commends organizations, advocates, and families working toward inclusion for people with autism.
- A further resolution clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
From the bill
“the members of this body recognize April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2025, as World Autism Awareness Day”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
- Brandon Beach (R, SD-21)
- Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
- Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
- Josh McLaurin (D, SD-14)
- Donzella James (D, SD-28)
- Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-41)
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-40)
- Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
- Nabilah Parkes (D, SD-7)
- Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
- Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)
- Nikki Merritt (D, SD-9)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Colton Moore (R, SD-53)
- Ed Setzler (R, SD-37)
- Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
- John Albers (R, SD-56)
- Ben Watson (R, SD-1)
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-38)
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-39)
Topics
- autism awareness
- disability advocacy
- Georgia Senate resolutions
- health awareness