Georgia CommonsHR 1465: Patafio, Alexandra "Alex" Marie; honoring the life and enduring legacy; indelible contributions to the Georgia legal community while a student at the Georgia State University College of Law; condolences
Last action February 24, 2026 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution honors the life of Alexandra "Alex" Marie Patafio, a Georgia State University College of Law student who died in 2022, for her work in public interest law.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes Alexandra "Alex" Marie Patafio, a student at the Georgia State University College of Law who was killed by a drunk driver in October 2022, seven months before she would have earned her law degree. The resolution describes her work with the school's Health Legal Partnership Clinic, its Alternative Spring Break pro bono program, and her role helping tenants facing eviction and a wrongfully accused person get criminal charges dismissed. It notes the college posthumously awarded her a Juris Doctor degree in 2023 and that scholarships and an award now bear her name. The House directs the Clerk to send copies of the resolution to her family, the Alex Patafio Foundation's board, and the law school's dean.
What the bill does
- Formally honors and celebrates the memory of Alexandra "Alex" Marie Patafio on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Recounts her pro bono and clinical work at the Georgia State University College of Law, including help for tenants facing eviction and a wrongfully accused individual.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to her parents, sister, the Alex Patafio Foundation's board, and the law school's dean.
- Creates no new law, funding, or legal requirement; it is a symbolic tribute.
Who it affects
The resolution most directly touches Alexandra Patafio's family and the Alex Patafio Foundation, who receive copies of it, and the Georgia State University College of Law community, including its dean, students, and the programs she was part of.
Why it matters
The resolution carries no legal or financial effect but serves as an official public record of the Georgia House recognizing her contributions to legal aid work and the impact of her death, which involved a drunk driving crash.
Key provisions
- The preamble recounts her enrollment, clinical work, awards, and death in a drunk driving crash on October 7, 2022.
- The resolving clause has the House of Representatives celebrate and honor her memory and her contributions to the Georgia legal community.
- A further resolution clause directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to her parents, sister, the Alex Patafio Foundation board, and the law school's dean.
From the bill
“her short life came to a catastrophic end as a result of one bad decision of a drunk driver”
“the Georgia State University College of Law thought it fitting and proper to posthumously award Alex the Juris Doctor degree”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
- Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
- Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
- El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)
- Betsy Holland (D, HD-054)
Topics
- legislative tribute
- Georgia State University College of Law
- public interest law
- drunk driving