Georgia lawmakers approve bill making cotton the official state fabric; Gov. Kemp signs into law

A bill introduced by State Rep. Jaclyn Ford seeking to name cotton as the official state fabric of Georgia, and highlighting its economic and environmental attributes, recently passed the legislature, according to the Georgia State House.

The legislation was approved in both chambers by Thursday, April 2, earning unanimous support in the House with a 158-0 vote and nearly unanimous approval in the Senate with a 50-1 vote.

Brought forth as HB1310 on Thursday, Feb. 12 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, the measure is formally titled: ’State symbols; cotton as official state fabric; designate’.

Below is an outline, derived from the actual bill text, offering a clarified explanation of its arguments and effects.

The bill assigns cotton the designation of official state fabric by creating a new code section among Georgia’s state symbols. Its findings conclude that cotton is a natural, breathable material that is hypoallergenic, assists with body temperature control, and decreases microplastic pollution in comparison to synthetic fibers. Considering cotton’s significance to Georgia, the bill points to roughly 1 million acres grown over nearly 100 of the state’s 159 counties and over $3 billion in annual economic impact, while stressing support for rural communities.

In the House, the vote included 61 Democrats and 97 Republicans in favor, without opposition from any members.

For the Senate, 19 Democrats and 31 Republicans supported the bill, while one Democrat opposed it.

The list of co-sponsors includes Rep. Chas Cannon (Republican-172nd), Rep. Robert Dickey (Republican-134th), Rep. Steven Meeks (Republican-178th), plus three more legislators.

Ford is an alumna of the University of Georgia.

A Republican, Ford won election to represent Georgia’s 170th House District in 2025, succeeding former State Rep. Penny Houston.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed the legislation into law on Wednesday, May 6.

According to Georgia’s lawmaking process, a bill is developed by a legislator—sometimes prompted by constituents—working with the Office of Legislative Counsel. Bills are filed with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, undergo readings, committee review, and, if passed out of committee, are voted on in a third reading on the chamber floor. To become law, a bill must pass both chambers—occasionally moving through conference committee if amendments differ—before it is sent to the governor, who can sign, veto, or take no action within a set timeframe. The Georgia General Assembly convenes for a 40-day session starting the second Monday of January each year.

Portions of this report cite the Georgia State House. Source documents are available here.