---
title: HR 1421. Wojtel, Officer Matthew; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1421
cite_as: HR 1421, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1421
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1421.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1421/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73446
date: 2026-02-19
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/hr1420.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1422.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 134
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1421.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1421
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-19
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Bethany Ballard
  - Shaw Blackmon
  - Anissa Jones
  - Robert Dickey
  - Clint Crowe
  - Noel Williams
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1421/2025
upstream_id: 2120611
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - law enforcement
  - police officer honored
  - Warner Robins
  - legislative commendation
---

# HR 1421. Wojtel, Officer Matthew; commend

## Text

House Resolution 1421
By: Representatives Ballard of the 147th, Blackmon of the 146th, Jones of the 143rd, Dickey
of the 134th, Crowe of the 118th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Commending Officer Matthew Wojtel; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Officer Matthew Wojtel has served with honor and distinction with the Warner
Robins Police Department since February 26, 2018; and
WHEREAS, he is an honest and dedicated public servant who strives for excellence in all
of his endeavors and whose primary concern is the welfare and safety of the citizens of the
State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, on January 29, 2026, Officer Wojtel sustained several gunshot wounds in the
line of duty, and is currently in recovery; and
WHEREAS, he is highly regarded by the citizens of his community and by state and local
government officials as a man of unquestioned integrity and dedication to the administration
of justice and sound principles of law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, this spirited law enforcement professional has exhibited extraordinary devotion
to duty, outstanding loyalty, fine leadership, and meticulous attention to detail in all of his
duties; and
WHEREAS, his inspiring commitment to the welfare of others is an outstanding example of
the positive effect law enforcement professionals have on the lives and well-being of others;
and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that gratitude is expressed for the unique and
often unheralded contributions of local law enforcement professionals on behalf of the
citizens of this state.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body commend the care, courage, sympathy, and selfless dedication
exhibited by Officer Matthew Wojtel in carrying out the difficult duties of his vocation and
express their utmost appreciation for having so purely and truly defined for others the
meaning of public servant.
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
Officer Matthew Wojtel.

## 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 Officer Matthew Wojtel of the Warner Robins Police Department, who was shot in the line of duty on January 29, 2026, for his service.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Officer Matthew Wojtel of the Warner Robins Police Department. The resolution recounts that Wojtel has served since February 26, 2018, and that on January 29, 2026, he was shot multiple times while on duty and is now recovering.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally commends Wojtel's dedication, courage, and service, and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to him.

### What it does

- Formally commends Officer Matthew Wojtel for his service with the Warner Robins Police Department since February 26, 2018.
- Recognizes that he sustained gunshot wounds in the line of duty on January 29, 2026 and is in recovery.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Officer Wojtel.
- Creates no new law, funding, or penalty; it is a symbolic statement of appreciation from the House.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names Officer Matthew Wojtel of the Warner Robins Police Department. It also reflects on local law enforcement officers generally, though it creates no legal obligations for any group beyond the House Clerk's duty to distribute a copy.

### Why it matters

While the resolution has no legal or financial effect, it represents a formal, public acknowledgment by the Georgia House of Representatives of an officer's injury in the line of duty and his service to the Warner Robins community.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses describe Wojtel's service since February 26, 2018 and the January 29, 2026 shooting that left him in recovery.
- The resolved clause has the House commend Wojtel's care, courage, sympathy, and dedication.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy for distribution to Wojtel.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-19)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-19)
- Sponsors: Bethany Ballard, Shaw Blackmon, Anissa Jones, Robert Dickey, Clint Crowe, Noel Williams
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73446

> The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1421.md?full=1