HR408: HR408 Georgia's aerospace and defense industry; Georgia Aerospace Day at the state capitol; February 26, 2025; recognize

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a ceremonial statement rather than a change to state law. It recounts facts about Georgia's aerospace and defense sector, including the number of companies, jobs, exports, and major employers like Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream Aerospace, as well as university programs at Georgia Tech, Middle Georgia University, Mercer, Georgia Southern, and the University of Georgia. Based on these findings, the House formally honors the industry and recognizes February 26, 2025, as Georgia Aerospace Day at the state capitol. It also directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to aerospace and defense industry representatives, higher education officials, and others as needed. The resolution creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties.

• Formally recognizes February 26, 2025, as Georgia Aerospace Day at the state capitol.
• Honors Georgia's aerospace and defense industry through a series of factual findings about jobs, exports, and companies.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available for distribution to industry and education representatives.
• Creates no new statutes, funding, penalties, or regulatory requirements, since it is a ceremonial resolution.

The resolution names Georgia's aerospace and defense companies such as Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream Aerospace, universities including Georgia Tech, Middle Georgia University, Mercer University, Georgia Southern, and the University of Georgia, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives who must distribute copies.

The resolution has no legal effect on Georgians' daily lives; it is a symbolic gesture recognizing an industry the legislature describes as economically significant, generating an estimated $57.5 billion in annual impact and employing more than 200,000 people in the state.

• The whereas clauses detail industry statistics, including more than 800 aerospace companies and over 200,000 Georgia jobs tied to the sector.
• The resolution notes aerospace has been Georgia's top international export category since 2004, totaling $11.1 billion in 2023.
• It highlights university aerospace programs at Georgia Tech, Middle Georgia University, Mercer, Georgia Southern, and the University of Georgia.
• The resolving clause designates February 26, 2025, as Georgia Aerospace Day at the state capitol.
• A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to relevant industry and education representatives.

1. 2025-02-26House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-02-26House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-26House Hopper (House)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)
• James Hatchett (R, HD-155)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)

• aerospace industry
• defense industry
• economic development
• Georgia manufacturing
• state capitol recognition