--- title: HR 1396. Coker, Jim; honoring the life and memory; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1396 cite_as: HR 1396, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1396 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1396.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1396/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73391 date: 2026-02-18 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/hr1395.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1397.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1396.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1396 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-18 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Reynaldo Martinez text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1396/2025 upstream_id: 2119537 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - memorial resolution - Georgia House of Representatives - condolences --- # HR 1396. Coker, Jim; honoring the life and memory; condolences ## Text House Resolution 1396 By: Representative Martinez of the 111th A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Jim Coker; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Jim Coker on January 22, 2026; and WHEREAS, Jim Coker was born on August 28, 1940, a beloved son, husband, father, and uncle; and WHEREAS, Jim Coker was a proud graduate of Loganville High School, the University of Georgia, and Woodrow Wilson College of Law; and WHEREAS, he was an Eagle Scout and served as a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty with the United States Army; and WHEREAS, he was united in love and marriage to his wife of 55 years, Kaye, and was blessed with two remarkable children, Jennifer and Jessica, and two wonderful grandchildren, Jaxon and James; and WHEREAS, he gave inspiration to many through his generosity, sense of humor, and valued service to the community, and the devotion, patience, and understanding he demonstrated to his family and friends were admired by others; and WHEREAS, he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example he made of his life, he made this world a better place in which to live; and WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Jim Coker will long be remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing him; and WHEREAS, Jim Coker was a die hard UGA Dawg fan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Jim Coker and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing. 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 family of Jim Coker. ## 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 the life of Jim Coker, a Loganville native and Army veteran, and offers condolences to his family following his death in January 2026. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a ceremonial tribute, not a change to state law. It recognizes the life of Jim Coker, who died on January 22, 2026, and recounts his background: his education at Loganville High School, the University of Georgia, and Woodrow Wilson College of Law, his time as an Eagle Scout and service in the United States Army, and his family life with his wife Kaye and their children and grandchildren. The resolution formally states that House members join in honoring his memory and express regret at his passing. It also directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to Coker's family. It does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute. ### What it does - Formally states that the Georgia House of Representatives honors the life and memory of Jim Coker and expresses condolences on his passing. - Recites biographical details about Coker, including his education, Army service, and family, as the basis for the tribute. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Coker's family. ### Who it affects This resolution directly affects the family of Jim Coker, who will receive an official copy, and the members of the Georgia House of Representatives who adopt it as a formal expression of condolence. It does not impose obligations on the public. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect; it does not change any law or program. Its significance is symbolic, giving Coker's family and community an official record of the legislature's recognition of his life and public expression of sympathy. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses lay out Coker's biography, including his birth date, education, Eagle Scout status, Army service, and family members. - The first resolving clause has the House of Representatives join in honoring Coker's memory and expressing regret at his passing. - The second resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available to Coker's family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-18) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-18) - Sponsors: Reynaldo Martinez - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73391 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1396.md?full=1