HR 1344: Lunar New Year Celebration; recognize

House Resolution 1344

By: Representatives Tran of the 80th, Hong of the 103rd, Au of the 50th, Lim of the 98th, and Byrd of the 20th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the Lunar New Year Celebration; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, February 17, 2026, marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated in many Asian communities around the world, including the United States and especially in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is home to nearly 500,000 Asian and Pacific Islander Americans of Bangladeshi, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, Iu-Mien, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese descent, which is approximately 4 percent of Georgia's total population; and

WHEREAS, the Asian and Pacific Islander American community has contributed to the social, cultural, civic, economic, and academic success of the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the Lunar New Year is predominately celebrated by Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese residents of Georgia, who account for approximately 200,000 Georgians; and

WHEREAS, this Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake, will be universally celebrated by these communities as a time to renew family ties and to start the new year with a clean slate; and

WHEREAS, the celebration of the Lunar New Year in communities throughout Georgia illustrates the state's rich cultural history and commitment to racial, religious, and cultural diversity.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body join Asian and Pacific Islander communities throughout the state in celebrating February 17, 2026, as the beginning of the Lunar New Year and extend best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous Lunar New Year to all Georgians. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.