SR799: SR799 Georgia Reads Day; recognize March 3, 2026

This resolution recognizes March 3, 2026 as Georgia Reads Day in Georgia. It commends the Georgia Council on Literacy for its statewide work encouraging reading from early childhood through high school, and praises Malcolm Mitchell, a Super Bowl champion and Georgia Reads Coach, for inspiring students through his Share the Magic Foundation's READBowl reading challenge. The resolution also recognizes the 2026 READBowl winners from elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as the 2026 Georgia Reads Community Award winners, who are honored for community literacy work spanning from birth through adult education. The Secretary of the Senate is directed to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Council on Literacy. The resolution does not create new law, funding, or requirements; it is a formal statement of recognition.

• Designates March 3, 2026 as Georgia Reads Day in the State of Georgia.
• Commends students who participated in and won the 2026 READBowl reading challenge.
• Honors Malcolm Mitchell, the Georgia Reads Coach, and the Georgia Council on Literacy for literacy advocacy work.
• Recognizes the 2026 Georgia Reads Community Award winners for community-driven literacy efforts.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Council on Literacy.

The resolution touches Georgia public school students who participated in the READBowl reading challenge, the Georgia Council on Literacy, Georgia Reads Coach Malcolm Mitchell and his Share the Magic Foundation, and community organizations receiving the 2026 Georgia Reads Community Award.

While the resolution carries no legal requirements or funding, it gives official state recognition to literacy programs and the people involved in them, which can raise public awareness of reading initiatives and honor participants and organizers for their work.

• The resolution's whereas clauses describe the purpose of Georgia Reads Day, the Georgia Council on Literacy's role, and Malcolm Mitchell's work as Georgia Reads Coach.
• The resolving clause formally designates March 3, 2026 as Georgia Reads Day and commends READBowl participants and winners, Mitchell, the Council, and Community Award winners.
• A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Council on Literacy.

1. 2026-02-19Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-02-18Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)

• literacy
• education
• Georgia schools
• commemorative resolution
• reading programs