--- title: SR 961. Harlem Globetrotters; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr961 cite_as: SR 961, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr961 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr961.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr961/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74105 date: 2026-03-18 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/sr960.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr962.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr961.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 961 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-18 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sonya Halpern - Jason T. Dickerson - Kim Jackson - Brian Strickland - Elena Parent - John Albers text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR961/2025 upstream_id: 2134483 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Harlem Globetrotters - Senate resolution - sports history - ceremonial recognition --- # SR 961. Harlem Globetrotters; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 961 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Dickerson of the 21st, Jackson of the 41st, Strickland of the 42nd, Parent of the 44th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Harlem Globetrotters upon their 100th anniversary; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Harlem Globetrotters were founded in 1926 on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, as a basketball entertainment team by Abe Saperstein, and this year represents 100 years of commitment to breaking down barriers and entertaining fans; and WHEREAS, the Harlem Globetrotters have revolutionized the game of basketball by combining elite athleticism with promoting innovation and entertainment as well as showcasing excellence and sportsmanship; and WHEREAS, the Harlem Globetrotters have made a profound impact, playing a pioneering role in challenging racial barriers, expanding opportunities for Black athletes in the United States and around the world, and contributing significantly to the integration and global popularity of basketball; and WHEREAS, the Harlem Globetrotters have served as ambassadors of goodwill, representing the United States in over 120 countries, using sports to move beyond competition, and promoting unity, respect, and cultural understanding; and WHEREAS, the Harlem Globetrotters have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to empowering the youth by operating through the Michael Douglas Youth Foundation; engaging through the Harlem Legends in speaking engagements and festival appearances; and hosting a multitude of youth basketball clinics and camps, which emphasize teamwork, perseverance, leadership, and inclusion; and WHEREAS, the Harlem Globetrotters' legacy has influenced popular culture, inspired generations of athletes, and affirmed the power of sports to challenge injustice and connect people globally, completely defying barriers. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend the Harlem Globetrotters upon the grand occasion of their 100th anniversary and extend sincere 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 Harlem Globetrotters. ## 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 honors the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team on the 100th anniversary of its founding, praising its history and cultural impact. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes the Harlem Globetrotters, the entertainment basketball team founded in Chicago in 1926, on the occasion of their 100th anniversary. The resolution recounts the team's history, including its role in challenging racial barriers in sports, its international goodwill tours, and its youth outreach work through the Michael Douglas Youth Foundation and basketball clinics. It formally commends the team and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to the Harlem Globetrotters. It creates no new rules, funding, or legal obligations. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends the Harlem Globetrotters on the 100th anniversary of the team's founding in 1926. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Harlem Globetrotters. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a symbolic statement by the Senate. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the Harlem Globetrotters organization, which will receive a formal copy. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies. ### Why it matters The resolution has no practical or legal effect on Georgians; it is a symbolic honor. Its main real-world consequence is that the Harlem Globetrotters will receive an official copy acknowledging their history and achievements from the Georgia Senate. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses recount the team's 1926 founding, its role challenging racial barriers, and its international goodwill tours in over 120 countries. - The resolved clause formally recognizes and commends the team and extends best wishes for continued success. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Harlem Globetrotters. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-18) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-18) - Sponsors: Sonya Halpern, Jason T. Dickerson, Kim Jackson, Brian Strickland, Elena Parent, John Albers - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74105 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr961.md?full=1