SR28: SR28 Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta; recognize

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It marks 51 years since the Office of the State of Georgia was established in Japan and celebrates the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta's role in building cultural, political, and economic ties between the Southeast United States and Japan. The resolution cites facts such as $7.65 billion in trade between Georgia and Japan, 514 Japan-affiliated offices in the state employing over 38,000 people, sister-city relationships between several Georgia cities and Japanese cities, and Japanese language programs in Georgia schools. It formally commends the Consulate-General's efforts and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta.

• Formally recognizes the 51st anniversary of the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta on behalf of the Georgia Senate.
• Commends the Consulate-General for strengthening cultural, educational, political, and economic ties between Georgia and Japan.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta.
• Creates no new law, funding, or legal requirement, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia statutes.

The resolution most directly touches the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta, which receives the formal recognition, and Georgia government offices such as the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute the document. It has no direct legal effect on the general public.

Because this is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law, it does not change any rights, rules, or funding for Georgians. Its practical effect is a formal, public acknowledgment from the Georgia Senate of the economic and cultural relationship between Georgia and Japan.

• The whereas clauses lay out background facts, including $7.65 billion in Georgia-Japan trade and 514 Japan-affiliated offices employing 38,290 people in Georgia.
• The whereas clauses note sister-city relationships between eight Georgia cities and Japanese cities, plus a sister-state tie with Kagoshima Prefecture and a sister-port tie with the Port of Shimizu.
• The resolved clause formally recognizes the anniversary and commends the Consulate-General's work strengthening ties between Georgia and Japan.
• The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta.

1. 2025-01-17Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-01-16Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)Primary sponsor
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)

• Georgia-Japan relations
• ceremonial resolution
• international trade
• sister cities