HR210: HR210 Georgia Forestry Commission; serving the State of Georgia as an emergency response agency; commend

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a ceremonial statement from the House of Representatives praising the Georgia Forestry Commission, which was created under the Forestry Act of 1921 to protect the state's forest resources. The resolution recounts the Commission's work fighting an average of 3,000 wildfires a year, responding to major fires in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2017, assisting with prescribed burning, and helping during disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Winter Storm Pax, Hurricane Michael, the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Helene, President Jimmy Carter's funeral, and avian influenza response. It directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo.

• Formally commends the Georgia Forestry Commission for decades of service protecting the state's forests and responding to emergencies.
• Recites the Commission's history since the Forestry Act of 1921 and its role in wildfire prevention and suppression.
• Lists specific emergency events the Commission's employees have responded to, including hurricanes, a pandemic, and a winter storm.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo.
• Extends the House's best wishes for the Commission's continued success, without creating any new legal requirement or funding.

The resolution directly names the Georgia Forestry Commission and its employees, including firefighters and POST-certified law enforcement officers within the agency, as well as State Forester John Sabo, who will receive the commendation.

Because this is a commendation rather than a law, it creates no new rules, funding, or obligations. Its practical effect is symbolic recognition by the Georgia House of Representatives of the Forestry Commission's role in wildfire response and disaster relief.

• Recites the Commission's founding under the Forestry Act of 1921 and its mission to protect Georgia's forest resources.
• Describes the Commission's wildfire response record, including catastrophic fires in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2017.
• Notes the Commission's role in prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk and protect habitats for threatened species.
• States that Commission employees meet national firefighter certification standards or are POST-certified law enforcement officers.
• Formally resolves that the House commends the Commission for its service and wishes it continued success.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo.

1. 2025-02-10House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-02-10House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-10House Hopper (House)

• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)Primary sponsor
• James Hatchett (R, HD-155)
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)
• James Burchett (R, HD-176)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Danny Mathis (R, HD-133)

• Georgia Forestry Commission
• wildfire response
• emergency management
• forest conservation