---
title: HR 1237. National Guard Day at the capitol; February 11, 2026; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1237
cite_as: HR 1237, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1237
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1237.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1237/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72862
date: 2026-02-04
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1236.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1238.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1237.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1237
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-04
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Josh Bonner
  - Charles Cannon
  - Carmen Rice
  - Steven Sainz
  - Bethany Ballard
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1237/2025
upstream_id: 2108127
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - National Guard
  - military recognition
  - Georgia Department of Defense
  - ceremonial resolution
---

# HR 1237. National Guard Day at the capitol; February 11, 2026; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 1237
By: Representatives Bonner of the 73rd, Cannon of the 172nd, Rice of the 139th, Sainz of the
180th, and Ballard of the 147th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 11, 2026, as National Guard Day at the capitol; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense provides ready and relevant military forces
to Combatant Commanders and provides emergency response capabilities to support
Homeland Defense and Defense Support to Civil Authorities; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense is headquartered at the Clay National Guard
Center in Marietta, Georgia, and includes the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air
National Guard, and the Georgia State Defense Force; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense consists of more than 11,600 Army
National Guard Soldiers, 2,900 Air National Guard Airmen, 500 State Defense Force
volunteers, and nearly 500 state employees; and
WHEREAS, The Georgia's Army National Guard is the sixth largest in the nation, it trains
in nearly 67 hometown armories and regional facilities, in nearly 60 counties across the state,
and includes combat, combat support, and combat service support units; and
WHEREAS, Georgia's Army National Guard was recognized as the best National Guard
Command by the Association of the United States Army in 2025, and is organized into five
major subordinate commands which are the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat
Team; the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, at Fort Benning; and the 78th Troop
Command, 78th Aviation Troop Command, and 201st Regional Support Group at the Clay
National Guard Center in Marietta; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Air National Guard is the air power component of the State of
Georgia with airmen and officers assigned to the 116th Air Control Wing in Warner Robins,
the 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah, and units throughout Georgia, playing an active role in
supporting combatant commanders and Georgia's homeland defense posture, with 116th and
165th conversions to Remotely Piloted Aircraft - Integration and the new C-130J,
respectively; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia State Defense Force is volunteer unit of the Georgia Department
of Defense, serving in support of the National Guard under direction of the Governor and
Adjutant General, notably during Exercise Patriot South, Vigilant Guard, and memorial
services for President Carter; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia National Guard has deployed more than 35,000 Soldiers and
Airmen throughout all geographic combatant commands since September 11, 2001;
maintained a steady overseas presence in support of contingency operations, maintained state
partnerships with the Country of Georgia and Republic of Argentina, while training and
preparing to support homeland response missions in the State of Georgia and southeast
United States; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the Georgia National Guard successfully supported missions in support
of the Department of Homeland Security on the southern border, and in the nation's capital
as part of Joint Task Force-DC; and
WHEREAS, the selfless actions of the men and women of the Georgia Department of
Defense and its components at home and abroad in 2025 stands as an example of putting
service before self, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments
of these remarkable and distinguished Georgians be appropriately recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize February 11, 2026, as National Guard at the Capitol and
commend the men and women of the Georgia National Guard for their strength, leadership,
courage and selfless service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution designates February 11, 2026 as National Guard Day at the capitol, honoring the Georgia National Guard and the broader Georgia Department of Defense.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes February 11, 2026 as National Guard Day at the capitol and commends the members of the Georgia National Guard for their service.
The resolution describes the structure and history of the Georgia Department of Defense, including the Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard, and Georgia State Defense Force, and notes accomplishments such as deployments since September 11, 2001, support for federal missions in 2025, and recognition as the best National Guard command by the Association of the United States Army. It directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press, but creates no new programs, funding, or legal requirements.

### What it does

- Formally designates February 11, 2026 as National Guard Day at the Georgia capitol.
- Commends the men and women of the Georgia National Guard for their service, leadership, and courage.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and press.
- Creates no new laws, funding, or enforceable requirements; it is a symbolic statement by the House.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly honors members of the Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard, and Georgia State Defense Force, along with civilian employees of the Georgia Department of Defense. It has no legal effect on other Georgians.

### Why it matters

Because this is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law, it does not change anyone's rights, duties, or funding. Its practical effect is limited to public recognition of National Guard members and a day of observance at the capitol.

### Key provisions

- The resolving clause recognizes February 11, 2026 as National Guard Day at the capitol and commends Georgia National Guard members for their service.
- A further resolution clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available for public and press distribution.
- Multiple 'whereas' clauses recite background facts about the Georgia Department of Defense's size, structure, and recent deployments, but these carry no binding legal effect.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-04)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-04)
- Sponsors: Josh Bonner, Charles Cannon, Carmen Rice, Steven Sainz, Bethany Ballard
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72862

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1237.md?full=1