HR850: HR850 Riley, Lynne; occasion of her retirement; commend

This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Lynne Riley as she retires from public service. It does not change any Georgia law; instead it formally commends her career, which spanned 21 years in various roles including Fulton County Commissioner, State Representative for House District 50, State Revenue Commissioner, State Treasurer, and President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission. The resolution highlights specific accomplishments, including her leadership of the HOPE Scholarship Program, which awarded over $4.3 billion to hundreds of thousands of students during her tenure, and her role in creating the GEORGIA MATCH direct admissions program. It also notes she was the first woman to hold the Georgia State Treasurer and Revenue Commissioner positions. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy to Riley.

• Formally recognizes and commends Lynne Riley for her 21 years of public service to the State of Georgia.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Lynne Riley.
• Documents specific career accomplishments, including her leadership over the HOPE Scholarship Program and the GEORGIA MATCH admissions program, without creating any new legal requirement.
• Extends the House's best wishes to Riley for her retirement, an honorary and ceremonial act with no regulatory effect.

This resolution directly affects Lynne Riley, the retiring public official it honors. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, though it references programs like the HOPE Scholarship and GEORGIA MATCH that touch Georgia students and families.

This is a ceremonial resolution rather than a change to law, so it carries no practical effect on daily life for Georgians. Its significance is symbolic, marking the House's formal recognition of a long-serving public official's career at her retirement.

• The whereas clauses recount Riley's 21 years of service in roles including Fulton County Commissioner, State Representative, Revenue Commissioner, State Treasurer, and Student Finance Commission President.
• The resolution notes that more than $4.3 billion in HOPE Scholarship funds went to 459,408 students during her leadership of the Georgia Student Finance Commission starting in July 2020.
• The resolved clause formally commends Riley for her service and wishes her success in retirement.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy of the resolution available to Riley.

1. 2025-03-28House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-03-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-28House Hopper (House)

• Charles Martin (R, HD-049)Primary sponsor
• Jon Burns (R, HD-159)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
• Lynn Smith (R, HD-070)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)

• legislative commendation
• HOPE Scholarship
• Georgia Student Finance Commission
• retirement honors