--- title: HR 1406. Brewton-Parker Christian University; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1406 cite_as: HR 1406, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1406 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1406.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1406/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73400 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/hr1405.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1407.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 134 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1406.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1406 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: - Leesa Hagan - Angie O'Steen text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1406/2025 upstream_id: 2119567 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - higher education - Georgia colleges and universities - legislative honors - Brewton-Parker --- # HR 1406. Brewton-Parker Christian University; commend ## Text House Resolution 1406 By: Representatives Hagan of the 156th and O’Steen of the 169th A RESOLUTION Honoring Brewton-Parker Christian University; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Brewton-Parker Christian University traces its origins to 1904, when it was founded as Union Baptist Institute through the vision and faith of Georgia Baptist leaders who sought to provide Christian values-based education and who were aided in this cause by a magnanimous donation of land by a highly esteemed African-American and former slave, Warren C. Crawley, Sr.; and WHEREAS, Brewton-Parker for over twelve decades has continually made a positive impact upon its community, region, and state; and WHEREAS, in recent years Brewton-Parker experienced significant growth and revitalization, including expanded academic offerings, improved facilities, increased enrollment, strengthened fiscal stewardship, and measurable spiritual impact through campus ministries and student engagement; and WHEREAS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approved the transition to university status, and effective July 1, 2025, Brewton-Parker College officially became Brewton-Parker Christian University. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body honor Brewton-Parker Christian University in recognition of its rich history, Georgia Baptist heritage, and continued commitment to Christ-centered higher education, as well as its service to students, churches, and communities across the State of Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives commends Dr. Steven F. Echols for his faithful leadership and stewardship in guiding the institution through a season of renewal and into its new chapter as a Christian university. 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 Brewton-Parker Christian University and to Dr. Steven F. Echols. ## 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 Brewton-Parker Christian University for its history and recent transition to university status, and commends its president, Dr. Steven F. Echols, for his leadership. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizes Brewton-Parker Christian University, a school founded in 1904 near Mount Vernon, Georgia as Union Baptist Institute. The text traces the school's founding, including a land donation from Warren C. Crawley, Sr., a formerly enslaved man, and describes the school's growth over more than a century. The resolution formally honors the university for its Georgia Baptist heritage and its recent change to university status, which took effect July 1, 2025 after approval from its accrediting body. It also commends Dr. Steven F. Echols, the university's leader, for guiding the school through this transition. The Clerk of the House is directed to send copies of the resolution to the university and to Dr. Echols. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally honors Brewton-Parker Christian University for its history, Georgia Baptist heritage, and service to students and communities. - Commends Dr. Steven F. Echols by name for his leadership in guiding the school's transition to university status. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send copies of the resolution to the university and to Dr. Echols. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulation; it is a ceremonial statement by the House. ### Who it affects Brewton-Parker Christian University, its president Dr. Steven F. Echols, and the school's students, faculty, and affiliated Georgia Baptist churches are named in the resolution. It has no legal effect on other individuals or institutions. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences; it is a symbolic gesture recognizing an institution's history and recent milestone. Its main real-world effect is that the university and its president receive an official copy of the House's public commendation. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount the university's founding in 1904 as Union Baptist Institute and its land donation from Warren C. Crawley, Sr. - The first resolved clause honors the university for its heritage and service across Georgia. - The second resolved clause commends Dr. Steven F. Echols for his leadership during the school's transition to university status, effective July 1, 2025. - The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the university and Dr. Echols. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-18) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-18) - Sponsors: Leesa Hagan, Angie O'Steen - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73400 > The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1406.md?full=1