States findings of the Legislature and encourages the celebration of America250 in Idaho.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION1 STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE, DECLARING 2026 TO BE THE YEAR OF VOL-2 UNTEERISM AND THE AMERICA250 IN IDAHO SERVICE CHALLENGE, RECOGNIZING3 A THEME SONG TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY, ENCOURAGING ALL4 IDAHOANS TO COMMEMORATE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY BY SIGNING IDAHO'S5 REPLICA OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, AND ENCOURAGING THE IDAHO6 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS TO PLANT TREES AS PART OF THE LIBERTY GROVES: ROOTS7 OF FREEDOM INITIATIVE IN COMMEMORATION OF AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY.8 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:9 WHEREAS, the Idaho Legislature has invited all Idahoans to promote an10 awareness and understanding of the principles contained in the nation's11 founding documents, including representative government, personal respon-12 sibility, individual liberty, and equal and inalienable rights; and13 WHEREAS, the Idaho Legislature has encouraged Idahoans to reflect on14 American and state history and heritage, develop deeper connections within15 their communities, and advance Idaho's contributions and values for the16 benefit of our children and future generations; and17 WHEREAS, Idaho is proudly joining the nation in celebrating America's18 250th birthday by implementing America250 in Idaho, a statewide effort to19 honor our nation's founding, engage families and students, and create last-20 ing memories for future generations; and21 WHEREAS, using Spuddy Buddy, the official mascot of the Idaho Potato22 Commission, the Revolutionary Spud characters were created to honor his-23 toric revolutionary leaders, and each was given a personality as well as24 handcrafted costumes to make history fun, approachable, and unforgettable25 for Idahoans of all ages; and26 WHEREAS, the Revolutionary Spuds are official America250 in Idaho am-27 bassadors and have traveled thousands of miles throughout the state visiting28 community events and collecting signatures for the historic capitol rotunda29 Declaration of Independence; and30 WHEREAS, thousands of Idahoans have already signed Idaho's replica of31 the Declaration of Independence, which hangs in the capitol rotunda; and32 WHEREAS, "Forever Idaho" is the official theme song for America250 in33 Idaho ambassadors and the Revolutionary Spuds and was created as a gift for34 all Idahoans; and35 WHEREAS, the song "Forever Idaho" celebrates Idaho's breathtaking36 landscapes, resilient communities, and shared love of home as we come to-37 gether to honor America's 250th birthday and beyond; and38 WHEREAS, the America250 in Idaho ambassadors are setting a bold vision39 and challenging Idahoans to collectively perform 250,000 acts of ser-40 vice from January until July 4, 2026, inviting every generation, from our41 youngest students to our wisest seniors, to join hands in this shared en-42 deavor and fill our communities with hope and kindness; and43

2 WHEREAS, Liberty Groves: Roots of Freedom is an America250 in Idaho1 initiative that celebrates Idaho's growth and resilience through the estab-2 lishment of groves of working forests across the state to symbolize liberty,3 unity, and renewal, while engaging communities, schools, veterans, and4 civic organizations in honoring America's founding principles and preserv-5 ing Idaho's natural and historical heritage for future generations.6 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-7 sion of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and8 the Senate concurring therein, that the Idaho Legislature declares 2026 to9 be the Year of Volunteerism and the America250 in Idaho Service Challenge.10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Legislature recognize11 "Forever Idaho" as the theme song of the America250 in Idaho ambassadors and12 the Revolutionary Spuds and invite all Idahoans to include this song in their13 celebrations throughout 2026 and beyond.14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Legislature encourage all15 Idahoans to commemorate America's 250th birthday by signing Idaho's replica16 of the Declaration of Independence, so that their names will be included in17 this powerful display of American patriotism.18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Legislature encourage the19 Idaho Department of Lands to plant trees as part of the Liberty Groves: Roots20 of Freedom initiative, establishing groves of working forests throughout21 Idaho in commemoration of America's 250th birthday.22