SR821: SR821 Georgia Reads Day; recognize March 3, 2026

This resolution from the Georgia Senate recognizes March 3, 2026, as Georgia Reads Day. It celebrates the Georgia Council on Literacy's work to promote reading achievement, and it commends Malcolm Mitchell, a Super Bowl champion and Georgia Reads Coach, for encouraging students to read through his Share the Magic Foundation's READBowl reading challenge. The resolution praises students from pre-K through high school who took part in the 2026 READBowl, a statewide and global reading competition, and honors the winners along with the 2026 Georgia Reads Community Award recipients, who are community leaders, schools, and organizations working on literacy from birth through adulthood. The Senate directs its Secretary to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Council on Literacy.

• Formally designates March 3, 2026, as Georgia Reads Day in recognition of statewide literacy efforts.
• Commends students who participated in and won the 2026 READBowl reading challenge organized by Malcolm Mitchell's Share the Magic Foundation.
• Recognizes Malcolm Mitchell, the Georgia Council on Literacy, and the 2026 Georgia Reads Community Award winners for their literacy work.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Council on Literacy.

The resolution honors Georgia students from pre-K through high school who took part in the READBowl reading challenge, literacy advocate Malcolm Mitchell, the Georgia Council on Literacy, and community organizations and schools that received the 2026 Georgia Reads Community Award.

While the resolution carries no legal requirements or funding, it gives official state recognition to literacy programs and student achievement, spotlighting reading initiatives that supporters say help build lifelong literacy skills for Georgia students.

• The resolution's whereas clauses describe the Georgia Council on Literacy's statewide role in advancing reading achievement.
• It highlights Malcolm Mitchell's role as Georgia Reads Coach and creator of the Share the Magic Foundation's READBowl challenge.
• The resolving clause formally recognizes March 3, 2026, as Georgia Reads Day and commends participants and winners.
• A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Council on Literacy.

1. 2026-02-20Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-02-19Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)

• literacy
• education
• Georgia Reads Day
• reading programs