Memorials, Recognition - Read Across America Week -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Justin Jones

Commemorates Read Across America Week in Tennessee (March 2–6, 2025) and endorses literacy, urging statewide participation and support for reading initiatives.

Signed by Governor.

#memorials #recognition

HJR 224 — Read Across America Week (2025)

Overview

Type: House Joint Resolution (joint resolution), memorializing rather than law.

Sponsor: Jones J.

Purpose: Commemorate Read Across America Week in Tennessee for March 2–6, 2025, aligning Tennessee with the National Education Association’s literacy initiative.

Status: Signed by the Governor (public enactment as a ceremonial resolution).

Purpose and Intent

Promote literacy and lifelong reading by recognizing Read Across America Week.

Highlight the benefits of reading in exposing children to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives; fostering imagination, creativity, and critical thinking.

Acknowledge the role of parents, caregivers, educators, librarians, authors, and communities in supporting children’s literacy.

Emphasize the value of diverse books and inclusive storytelling to help students understand themselves and others.

Key Provisions

Officially commemorates March 2–6, 2025, as Read Across America Week in Tennessee.

Affirms the importance of reading to build knowledge, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning.

Encourages engagement with local libraries and school-based literacy activities during the week.

Cites well-known literary works and authors as part of the broader celebration of reading and its impact.

Provides that an appropriate copy of the resolution be prepared for presentation; a provision related to display formatting specifies that language following the State seal may appear without House or Senate designation on copies.

Fiscal Impact

Not Significant: The accompanying fiscal note states that a copy of the resolution can be prepared without a significant increase in state expenditures.

Affected Parties

Students, parents, educators, librarians, and local communities in Tennessee.

Local school systems and library systems, which may observe or promote events during Read Across America Week.

The state, in a ceremonial, symbolic capacity, expressing statewide support for literacy.

Legislative History and Timeline

Introduced: February 13, 2025.

House and Senate actions culminated in concurrence and final passage in March 2025.

Senate Speaker and House Speaker signatures followed; transmitted to the Governor.

Governor signed: March 25, 2025.

(Sponsor: Jones J; Concurrence and enrollment steps occurred in mid-March 2025.)

Practical Effect

The resolution serves as a symbolic endorsement of Read Across America Week and literacy initiatives in Tennessee.

It provides a formal statement of support from the Tennessee General Assembly and encourages statewide participation in literacy activities during the week.