Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 581: Reach Out and Read Day; recognize January 27, 2026
Last action January 16, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution designates January 27, 2026, as Reach Out and Read Day at the state capitol, honoring a pediatric early literacy program active across Georgia.
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 from the Georgia Senate recognizes January 27, 2026, as Reach Out and Read Day at the state capitol. It does not change any law, create funding, or impose requirements. Instead, it formally commends Reach Out and Read Georgia, a program that trains pediatricians and medical staff to give children's books to young patients and encourage parents to read aloud daily during wellness checkups. The resolution cites the program's history, noting it began in Boston in 1989 and launched in Georgia in 2012, now reaching over 194,000 children and families across 81 counties. It describes research showing benefits like improved kindergarten readiness and stronger parent-child bonding. The Senate directs its Secretary to send a copy of the resolution to Reach Out and Read Georgia as a formal acknowledgment.
What the bill does
- Designates January 27, 2026, as Reach Out and Read Day at the Georgia state capitol.
- Formally commends Reach Out and Read Georgia for integrating children's books into pediatric care visits statewide.
- Encourages Georgia families to read aloud together every day.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Reach Out and Read Georgia.
Who it affects
The resolution mainly recognizes Reach Out and Read Georgia, its affiliated pediatricians, medical staff, and the families and children served through the program's clinics, hospitals, and home visiting sites across 81 Georgia counties.
Why it matters
While the resolution carries no legal force or funding, it publicly highlights a pediatric literacy program many Georgia families already encounter during wellness visits, and may raise awareness of early childhood reading efforts among medical providers and lawmakers.
Key provisions
- The resolution recites background on Reach Out and Read's founding in 1989 and its expansion to Georgia in 2012, now serving 194,258 children and families.
- It cites statistics on books distributed, well-child checkups conducted, and provider training over the past year.
- The Senate resolves to commend the program and encourage daily family reading.
- The Senate designates January 27, 2026, as Reach Out and Read Day at the state capitol.
- The Secretary of the Senate is directed to distribute a copy of the resolution to Reach Out and Read Georgia.
From the bill
“the members of this body commend the efforts of Reach Out and Read to give young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into the existing pediatric care infrastructure”
“recognize January 27, 2026, as Reach Out and Read Day at the state capitol”
Discussed in meetings (1)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate floor session, January 27, 2026 (legislative day 7)
From 0:48:10 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The clerk read SR 581, recognizing Reach Out and Read Day and encouraging families to read aloud with young children. The resolution cited more than 1,000 trained medical providers and staff and approximately 194,258 children and families reached through well-child visits over the previous year. The Senate adopted it without objection. The presenting senator said the General Assembly made its first direct investment in Reach Out and Read Georgia the previous year and encouraged further support for early childhood reading. The organization's executive director said the program operated in 84 counties and sought to reach all 159.
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
- Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
- Donzella James (D, SD-28)
Topics
- early childhood literacy
- pediatric health
- Georgia Senate resolutions
- children's books
- child development