--- title: HR 1259. Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce; significant contributions to economic development, community leadership, and the cultivation of local talent through Leadership Monroe program; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1259 cite_as: HR 1259, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1259 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1259.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1259/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72933 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/hr1258.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1260.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1259.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1259 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: - Tangie Herring - Clint Crowe - Dale Washburn - Robert Dickey - Beth Camp text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1259/2025 upstream_id: 2109971 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - chamber of commerce - Monroe County - economic development - community leadership - Forsythia Festival --- # HR 1259. Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce; significant contributions to economic development, community leadership, and the cultivation of local talent through Leadership Monroe program; commend ## Text House Resolution 1259 By: Representatives Herring of the 145th, Crowe of the 118th, Washburn of the 144th, Dickey of the 134th, and Camp of the 135th A RESOLUTION Commending the efforts of the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce for its significant contributions to economic development, community leadership, and the cultivation of local talent through the Leadership Monroe program; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce has served as a cornerstone of the Middle Georgia business community since 1978, steadfastly pursuing its mission to promote commerce, community, and tourism in Monroe County; and WHEREAS, the Chamber is a primary driver of economic vitality, leading Monroe County toward its vision of becoming the premier business community in Georgia by supporting local enterprises and fostering an environment where businesses of all sizes can thrive; and WHEREAS, the Chamber's signature Leadership Monroe program stands as a transformative nine-month experience designed to empower, educate, and equip citizens to serve their community through a curriculum rooted in experiential learning and self-discovery; and WHEREAS, Leadership Monroe participants gain an intensive, firsthand look at the essential pillars of the county, including sessions dedicated to City and County Government, Economic Development, Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, and Community Service; and WHEREAS, through this rigorous program, emerging and established leaders develop a deep understanding of how Monroe County operates daily, creating a network of informed citizens ready to guide the civic and economic future of the region; and WHEREAS, the Chamber further enriches the cultural and economic landscape of Middle Georgia by hosting the annual Forsythia Festival, a Southeastern Tourism Society Top 20 Event that draws thousands of visitors to downtown Forsyth each spring; and WHEREAS, the organization's success is a testament to the dedication of its Board of Directors and professional staff, who work tirelessly to bridge the gap between business interests and community needs; and WHEREAS, under the current leadership, the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce continues to be a vital advocate for pro-business initiatives and a catalyst for collaborative relationships that benefit every citizen of Forsyth and Monroe County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce for its exemplary efforts in driving economic growth, nurturing community leaders, and fostering a vibrant quality of life in Monroe County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that recognition is given to President and CEO Melissa Lee, Chairwoman Kerri Swearingen, and the entire Board of Directors and staff for their vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the prosperity of Middle Georgia. 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 the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce. ## 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 commends the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce for its economic development work and its Leadership Monroe civic training program. ### Plain-language summary This is a commemorative resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not change any law. It formally praises the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, which has operated in Monroe County since 1978, for its role in promoting local business, community life, and tourism. The resolution specifically highlights the Chamber's Leadership Monroe program, a nine-month course that teaches participants about local government, economic development, education, healthcare, agriculture, and community service. It also notes the Chamber's annual Forsythia Festival in downtown Forsyth. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy for distribution to the Chamber, and names its President and CEO and Chairwoman for recognition. ### What it does - Formally commends the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce for its work on economic development and community leadership in Monroe County. - Recognizes the Chamber's Leadership Monroe program, a nine-month civic education course covering government, economic development, education, healthcare, agriculture, and community service. - Acknowledges the Chamber's annual Forsythia Festival as a notable regional tourism event. - Names President and CEO Melissa Lee, Chairwoman Kerri Swearingen, and the Chamber's Board of Directors and staff for recognition. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Chamber. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, its President and CEO, its Chairwoman, and its Board of Directors and staff. It has no legal effect on the public, businesses, or government operations beyond this formal recognition. ### Why it matters This resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect; it does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its practical impact is symbolic, giving the Chamber of Commerce official recognition from the state legislature for its community and economic development work. ### Key provisions - The resolution states the Chamber's history dating to 1978 and its mission to promote commerce, community, and tourism in Monroe County. - It describes the Leadership Monroe program's nine-month curriculum and its focus areas, including government, economic development, education, healthcare, agriculture, and community service. - It references the annual Forsythia Festival as a Southeastern Tourism Society Top 20 Event. - The resolving clauses commend the Chamber, recognize named individuals, and direct the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to the organization. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-05) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-05) - Sponsors: Tangie Herring, Clint Crowe, Dale Washburn, Robert Dickey, Beth Camp - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72933 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1259.md?full=1