--- title: HR 1257. Hodges, Herbert; 2025 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1257 cite_as: HR 1257, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1257 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1257.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1257/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72931 date: 2026-02-05 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/hr1256.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1258.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1257.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1257 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-05 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Butch Parrish - Jon Burns - James Burchett - Charles Cannon - John Corbett - Robert Dickey text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1257/2025 upstream_id: 2110018 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - forestry - tree farming - land stewardship - legislative honors --- # HR 1257. Hodges, Herbert; 2025 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year; commend ## Text House Resolution 1257 By: Representatives Parrish of the 158th, Burns of the 159th, Burchett of the 176th, Cannon of the 172nd, Corbett of the 174th, and others A RESOLUTION Congratulating Herbert Hodges, the 2025 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, at the Georgia Forestry Association's Annual Conference & Forestry Expo, the Georgia Tree Farm Program named Herbert Hodges of the Hodges Tree Farm as the 2025 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year in recognition of his outstanding forest management and dedication to sustainable land stewardship; and WHEREAS, presented through the American Tree Farm System, this prestigious award honors private landowners who demonstrate forestry practices that support local wildlife, wood production, water conservation, and recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, Mr. Hodges and his family exemplify outstanding stewardship of Georgia's forestland and represent the many private landowners who sustainably manage working forests while supporting rural economies across the state; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this exemplary Georgian be appropriately honored during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body congratulate Herbert Hodges of the Hodges Tree Farm upon their recognition as the 2025 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year as well as extend best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Herbert Hodges. ## 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 honors Herbert Hodges of Hodges Tree Farm as the 2025 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year for his forest management and land stewardship. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Herbert Hodges, who was named the 2025 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year by the Georgia Tree Farm Program at the Georgia Forestry Association's Annual Conference & Forestry Expo. The award, given through the American Tree Farm System, honors private landowners whose forestry practices support wildlife, wood production, water conservation, and recreation. The resolution states that Hodges and his family exemplify strong stewardship of Georgia's forestland and represent private landowners who sustainably manage working forests while supporting rural economies. It formally congratulates Hodges and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to him. It does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally congratulates Herbert Hodges of Hodges Tree Farm on being named the 2025 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year. - States the House's recognition of his forest management and sustainable land stewardship practices. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Hodges. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Herbert Hodges and his family, who operate Hodges Tree Farm. It also touches the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is directed to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution. ### Why it matters This is a symbolic honor with no binding legal effect. It publicly recognizes a Georgia landowner's forestry practices and does not create new rules, funding, or requirements affecting other Georgians or state agencies. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe the award, given by the Georgia Tree Farm Program through the American Tree Farm System, and note it honors landowners who support wildlife, wood production, water conservation, and recreation. - The resolved clause has the House of Representatives congratulate Herbert Hodges and extend best wishes for continued success. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Herbert Hodges. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-05) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-05) - Sponsors: Butch Parrish, Jon Burns, James Burchett, Charles Cannon, John Corbett, Robert Dickey - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72931 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1257.md?full=1