HR1545: HR1545 Cole, Jesse and Emily; Banana Ball and Bananas Foster; commend

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Jesse and Emily Cole, the founders of the Savannah Bananas baseball team and its entertainment brand Banana Ball. The resolution notes that the Coles, who are foster parents themselves, started Bananas Foster, a nonprofit connected to Banana Ball that highlights the foster care community and selects a 'Bananas Foster Family' to have a special experience at each game. The resolution states that Georgia has about 9,500 children in foster care and points to the Coles' national media attention as a way of drawing attention to the need for more foster parents. It does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose any requirements. It simply directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for the Coles, Banana Ball, and Bananas Foster.

• Formally honors Jesse and Emily Cole for founding the Savannah Bananas and Banana Ball entertainment brand.
• Recognizes Bananas Foster, the nonprofit the Coles created, for raising awareness of the need for foster care parents in Georgia.
• States that Georgia currently has about 9,500 children in foster care and highlights the shortage of foster parents.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the honorees.

The resolution directly names Jesse and Emily Cole, the Savannah Bananas, Banana Ball, and the Bananas Foster nonprofit. It also references Georgia's foster care system and the roughly 9,500 children currently in foster care, though it creates no new obligations for any agency.

The resolution carries no legal effect and changes no Georgia law or funding, but it publicly acknowledges a privately run awareness campaign around foster care and signals legislative recognition of the Coles' work, which may draw further public attention to Georgia's need for foster parents.

• The whereas clauses describe the founding of the Savannah Bananas in 2016 and the creation of Bananas Foster as a nonprofit tied to Banana Ball.
• States that Bananas Foster selects a 'Bananas Foster Family' for a backstage experience at each Banana Ball game.
• Notes that the foster care need has received national media coverage on outlets such as the Today show, ABC News, CBS News, and Sports Illustrated.
• The resolved clause has the House honor and celebrate the Coles, Banana Ball, and Bananas Foster for their foster care awareness efforts.
• A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for the honorees.

1. 2026-03-03House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2026-03-03House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-03House Hopper (House)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)

• foster care
• Savannah Bananas
• Banana Ball
• legislative commendation
• nonprofit recognition