SR82: SR82 National Guard Day; recognize February 6, 2025

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It designates February 6, 2025 as National Guard Day at the state capitol and commends the members of the Georgia National Guard for their service. The resolution describes the Georgia Department of Defense, which oversees the Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard, and Georgia State Defense Force, headquartered at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta. It highlights the Guard's size, structure, and recent activity, including its response to hurricanes Debbie, Milton, and Helene in 2024 and its deployments since September 11, 2001. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the document to the public and press.

• Formally designates February 6, 2025 as National Guard Day at the Georgia state capitol.
• Commends members of the Georgia National Guard for their service, describing them as strong, courageous, and selfless.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
• Creates no new laws, funding, or legal requirements, since it is a commemorative resolution rather than binding legislation.

The resolution primarily affects members of the Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard, and Georgia State Defense Force, along with the Georgia Department of Defense, which oversees them. It also involves the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute copies of the resolution.

While the resolution does not change any law or provide funding, it publicly recognizes the service of thousands of Georgia National Guard members, including their role in 2024 hurricane response efforts, giving formal state acknowledgment to their work.

• The resolving clause designates February 6, 2025 as National Guard Day at the state capitol and commends Guard members for their service.
• The whereas clauses describe the structure of the Georgia Department of Defense, including the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, and State Defense Force.
• The whereas clauses note the Georgia Army National Guard is the sixth largest in the nation and describe its major subordinate commands.
• The whereas clauses detail 2024 hurricane response efforts, citing more than 2,000 personnel responding to hurricanes Debbie, Milton, and Helene.
• The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.

1. 2025-02-03Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-01-30Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)Primary sponsor
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Colton Moore (R, SD-053)

• National Guard
• military recognition
• Georgia Department of Defense
• legislative resolutions
• hurricane response