SR205: SR205 Senator Vincent D. Fort Memorial Intersection; Fulton County; dedicate

This resolution recognizes the life of the Honorable Vincent D. Fort, who represented Georgia's 39th Senate District from 1996 to 2017 and was known for authoring the state's first hate crimes law and the Georgia Fair Lending Act. It recounts his career as a historian, educator, and legislator, and his advocacy for civil rights, fair lending, and public education funding. The resolution's operative effect is to dedicate the intersection of State Route 139/Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and Lee Street Southwest in Fulton County as the Senator Vincent D. Fort Memorial Intersection. It directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the dedication, and instructs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to Fort's family and to the Department of Transportation.

• Dedicates the intersection of State Route 139/Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and Lee Street Southwest in Fulton County as the Senator Vincent D. Fort Memorial Intersection.
• Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the memorial intersection.
• Instructs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to Fort's family and to the Department of Transportation.
• Recounts Fort's biography and legislative record, including his authorship of Georgia's first hate crimes law and the Georgia Fair Lending Act, as the basis for the honor.

The resolution directly affects the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must install and maintain the memorial signage, and the family of the late Senator Vincent D. Fort, who will receive copies of the resolution. It also touches residents and drivers in the Fulton County area near the dedicated intersection.

While largely ceremonial, the resolution results in a concrete state action: permanent signage at a Fulton County intersection commemorating a former state senator's public service, funded and maintained through the Department of Transportation rather than local resources.

• The whereas clauses detail Fort's biography, his service as a Georgia State Senator for the 39th District from 1996 to 2017, and his legislative achievements including the 2001 hate crimes law and the Georgia Fair Lending Act.
• The first resolving clause dedicates the intersection of State Route 139/Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and Lee Street Southwest in Fulton County as the Senator Vincent D. Fort Memorial Intersection.
• A further resolving clause authorizes and directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the dedicated intersection.
• A final resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to Fort's family and the Department of Transportation.

1. 2025-02-19Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-18Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• David Lucas (D, SD-026)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)

• memorial resolution
• Fulton County
• Vincent D. Fort
• road dedication
• Department of Transportation